What must a plaintiff prove in order to succeed in a negligence claim?

In a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove several key elements to establish that the defendant is liable for their injuries or damages. One of the critical elements is that the defendant breached a standard of care. This means that the defendant failed to act with the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Establishing that a breach occurred is crucial because it demonstrates that the defendant's actions or failure to act were unreasonable and directly contributed to the harm experienced by the plaintiff.

Additionally, to succeed in a negligence claim, the plaintiff must also prove that a duty of care was owed, the breach of that duty occurred, and that there were actual damages as a result of the breach. Proving that the defendant breached a standard of care encompasses the necessary aspect of showing negligence in their behavior or actions, which directly links to the causation of the damages claimed by the plaintiff.