What it means
Negligence is a civil wrong (a tort) that occurs when someone breaches a duty of care and that breach causes another person foreseeable harm or loss. To succeed, a claimant must usually show a duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and damage. In Australia, negligence claims are governed by common law and by civil liability legislation in each state and territory, which set out rules on standards of care, contributory negligence and limits on damages.
How it's used
The supermarket was found liable in negligence after a customer slipped on a spill that staff had ignored for an hour.