What term describes the failure to exercise appropriate care in a situation?

Negligence is a legal term used to describe a failure to exercise reasonable care, leading to harm or injury to another person. In a legal context, it refers specifically to actions (or omissions) that deviate from the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. If someone's lack of appropriate care results in damage or injury, they may be held liable for negligence.

In comparison to other terms, assault involves the act of threatening or causing physical harm, which is distinct from the concept of carelessness associated with negligence. Liability refers generally to being legally responsible for something, which may arise from negligent acts, but it does not specifically denote the failure to act with appropriate care. An injunction is a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing specific acts, which again differs from the concept of care and the absence of it. Thus, negligence specifically captures the essence of failing to exercise appropriate care in a given situation.