Legal Definitions - legal duty

A legal duty is an obligation that is created by law or contract. It means that a person is required to act in a certain way and follow a particular standard. This duty is recognized by the law, and if it is not fulfilled, the law will enforce it for the benefit of others who are owed this duty.

For example, in tort law, a landowner has a legal duty to protect people who are invited onto their property from any hazards that may be present, such as an open pit. This means that the landowner must take reasonable steps to ensure that their property is safe for visitors.

Another example of a legal duty is the duty of care that doctors have towards their patients. This means that doctors must provide a certain standard of care to their patients, and if they fail to do so, they may be held liable for any harm that their patients suffer as a result.

Overall, a legal duty is an important concept in the law, as it helps to ensure that people act in a responsible and accountable way towards others.