In a California personal injury case, the term standard of care just means:
- What someone should reasonably do to avoid causing an accident in a particular situation.
When you look at standard of care in the context of an accident, it depends on the circumstances. It could involve someone driving their car on I-5 or a business that makes a potentially dangerous product. If you’re hurt, though, you need someone on your side to cut through all the confusion. Our team at Maison Law can do just that. Set up a free consultation today.
What Are the Different Standards of Care in a Personal Injury Case?
Every accident is different, and each carries their own unique circumstances. This includes the “standard of care” that existed at the time. But more to the point, the standard of care is going to be based on:
- Who was involved in the accident.
- What their role in it was.
While everyone has different responsibilities, the underlying idea is the same: act reasonably and avoid putting others at unnecessary risk. When that doesn’t happen, an accident isn’t far behind. But to more fully understand what the standard of care is, you have to look at real-world examples where:
- A driver might speed through a neighborhood or run a red light.
- A property owner might ignore something dangerous, like a broken step or a slippery walkway.
- A business could skip routine safety checks or fail to keep its equipment working in the right way.
Even though the term sounds legal, standard of care is really about one thing: common sense. Different people are held to different expectations–a doctor has a different standard of care than a driver, and a property owner has different responsibilities than a business.
But it’s understanding those differences that can make it easier to see why some cases settle quickly while others go all the way to trial. At the end of the day, it’s about fairness. People should be held accountable when their choices—or lack of action—cause someone else real harm.
If you’ve been injured and want help figuring out whether someone fell short of the standard of care, we can go through your situation, explain your rights, and make sure all your losses are considered. We’ll guide you step by step, help gather the evidence you need, and make sure your story is heard. Reach out today for a free consultation to see how we can help.
