Legal Definitions - care

Definition: Care means being attentive, careful, and diligent. It is the opposite of being careless or negligent. The amount of care needed in a situation is determined by the standard of conduct expected from a person in that situation.

In law, there are three degrees of care:

• Slight care: This is the degree of care that people exercise for their own affairs of slight importance.
• Reasonable (or ordinary) care: This is the degree of care that an ordinary, prudent, and rational person would exercise in similar circumstances.
• Great care: This is the degree of care that is greater than what is usually expected from a person of ordinary prudence in similar circumstances.

For example, if you are driving a car, you are expected to exercise reasonable care to avoid accidents. This means following traffic rules, paying attention to the road, and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you are a doctor, you are expected to exercise great care when treating patients, as their health and well-being depend on your actions.

Overall, care is about being responsible and taking the necessary steps to prevent harm or damage. It is an important concept in many areas of life, including law, medicine, and everyday interactions with others.