Duty Of Care

Duty of care occurs when someone is legally bound to apply a logical standard of care while carrying out an act that could potentially be detrimental to others. In other words, people are expected to act in relation to others and the public with a level of consideration and caution that anyone rational person placed in their position would exercise. If a person's behavior does not meet these expectations, their actions are deemed negligent. Any harm caused by this conduct is grounds for legal action to be taken based on this negligence.

A prime example of duty of care is the protocol that exists between frozen food makers and consumers. Case in point; consider a company that specializes in frozen chicken nuggets. It is their responsibility to maintain a level of quality that ensures the safety of all those who eat their product. If people consuming this chicken suddenly begin falling ill, an investigation is sure to ensue. The next thing you know, this chicken is recalled from store shelves due to salmonella contamination. The company has breached its duty of care as a result of negligence caused by poor inspection standards, and they are now subject to a lawsuit.