Which element of negligence is satisfied when the defendant breaches the standard of care?

• A. Breach
• B. Duty
• C. Damages
• D. Causation

Answer: (A)

Negligence is shown when a person fails to meet a required standard of care. The standard of care is what a reasonably prudent telecommunicator would do in similar circumstances. When someone’s conduct falls short of that standard, that failure is a breach of the standard of care. A breach is the key element that shows the defendant did not act as required.

Even with a breach, you still need two additional things to prove negligence: causation (the breach caused the injury) and damages (actual harm or loss). So the breach is the element that directly reflects not meeting the expected standard of care.