Ace the OTL Agent’s Exam A 2026 – Unleash Your Insurance Superpowers!

Ordinary negligence rests on the reasonable-person standard: you’re judged by whether you acted as a reasonably prudent person would in the same situation. When that reasonable standard isn’t met and a person’s lapse causes harm, liability can arise. This definition captures the everyday, non-intentional failure to take normal precautions, which can lead to injuries or property damage in a wide range of contexts. It isn’t tied to bodily injury to a third party alone, and it isn’t the same as gross negligence, which implies a reckless disregard for safety. It also doesn’t require impairment like drinking and driving; ordinary negligence can occur in many ordinary circumstances.