What standard of care applies when assessing negligence for an adult?

The correct standard of care when assessing negligence for an adult is the reasonable person standard. This standard measures how a typical, prudent person would act under similar circumstances, focusing on the behavior expected from an ordinary person rather than a specialized or expert level of care.

When evaluating negligence, the courts look at whether the defendant's actions fell below the threshold of what a reasonable person would have done. This standard helps provide a clear guideline for determining whether a duty of care has been breached. For adults, using the reasonable person standard acknowledges the expectation that they should take reasonable precautions to avoid causing harm to others, based on the general community's norms and values.

In contrast, the reasonable child standard applies specifically to minors and takes into account their age, intelligence, and experience. The subjective standard pertains to a person's own perceptions and intentions rather than an objective measure of conduct. The specialist standard is applicable to individuals with specialized skills or knowledge; this standard holds these individuals to a higher level of care expected of someone in their profession. Overall, the reasonable person standard is the foundational basis for adult negligence cases in tort law.