Legal Definitions - neglegentia

Negligentia is a Latin term used in Roman law to describe carelessness or inattentive omission. It means not being careful enough and not doing what you should have done to prevent harm to others. Negligentia can range from minor carelessness to extreme negligence, which can result in legal liability. It is different from intentional harm, which is called dolus. Negligence is a failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in a similar situation. It is a tort that involves duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Gross negligence is a conscious, voluntary act or omission in reckless disregard of a legal duty and of the consequences to another party, who may typically recover exemplary damages.