Which type of liability involves unintentional harm caused by negligence?

Negligence is the type of liability that pertains to unintentional harm caused by failing to exercise reasonable care. In legal terms, negligence occurs when an individual's actions (or lack of actions) fall below the standard of care expected in a particular situation, leading to injury or damage to another party.

This concept is foundational in civil law, as it establishes the criteria under which a person may be held liable for harm caused without intent to injure. The key elements of negligence include the existence of a duty of care owed to another person, a breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to the harm suffered, and actual damages. Therefore, when someone is harmed as a result of another's failure to act responsibly, it is classified as negligence.

While intentional torts involve deliberate actions to harm others, strict liability pertains to situations where a party is held liable regardless of fault or intent, often related to inherently dangerous activities. Fraudulent liability, though not a standard legal term, usually refers to situations where deceit is involved. Each of these differs fundamentally from negligence, which centers on unintended harm resulting from carelessness.