Torts - Negligence

11 cards   |   Total Attempts: 188
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
What are the 4 elements of Negligence?
1. Duty
2. Breach
3. Causation
4. Damages
What are some ways of proving Breach?
1. Balance Approach
2. Direct Evidence
3. Circumstantial Evidence
4. Res ipsa loquitur
5. Contravening Custom
6. Violation of statute (negligence per se)
What are some exceptions to the "but for" cause?
1. Loss of Chance
2. Substantial Factor
3. Alternative Liability (shifting burden of proof)
4. Market share Liability
What is Hand's Formula?
B<PL
B = Burden
P = Probability of Risk of Injury
L = Gravity of Injury if it happens
Probability and Gravity have to be higher then Burden
What is the standard of care in Negligence?
That of a reasonable prudent person
Objective Standard
Have to have knowledge (Actual/Constructive)
True or False
Custom is prima facie evidence of the standard of care.
True.
But not conclusive
True or False
Is custom conclusive in medical negligence cases.
True.
With expert testimony
What factors ARE taken into account when determining standard of care of a reasonable person?
1. Disability - reasonable prudent blind person
2. Superior knowledge - race car driver
3. Emergency
4. Children - child's age, intelligence, and experience
5. Professional - doctor, lawyer
What factors ARE NOT taken into account when determining standard of care of a reasonable person?
1. Mental Illness
2. Inferior Knowledge
3. Children engaging in dangerous activities
Expert testimony is usually required to prove ______.
1. standard of medical care
2. breach of standard of care
3. breach caused injury
What are the two standards of informed consent?
Professional Standard of Care - what a reasoanble physician would have told the patient under similar cicumstances.
Patient-Focused SOC - what "material" information a reasonable patient would want to know