What is defined as negligence under Ohio law?

Negligence under Ohio law is defined as the failure to exercise reasonable care, which results in harm to another person. This legal standard emphasizes the importance of a person's duty to act with a certain level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. When an individual's actions fall short of this standard and result in an injury or harm to another, it constitutes negligence.

The rationale behind this definition is to promote accountability and ensure that individuals take responsibility for their actions, especially in situations where their lack of care could foreseeably lead to the injury of others. This concept plays a central role in personal injury cases and various fields of law, as it lays the foundation for establishing liability.

In contrast, the other choices outline scenarios that do not align with the legal definition of negligence. Failure to follow a contract pertains to breach of contract, intentional harm categorizes as tortious conduct specifically intended to harm someone, and accidental harm that does not cause injury does not meet the criteria for negligence, as negligence requires that harm or injury be a resultant outcome of the lack of reasonable care. Understanding this difference is crucial in applying the principles of negligence law effectively.