What are the essential elements needed to establish negligence?

In order to establish negligence, it is necessary to demonstrate that there was a legal duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, that this duty was breached, and that the breach caused harm to the plaintiff, resulting in damages.

The concept of duty refers to the obligation that a party has to act with a certain standard of care towards others. When this duty is breached, it signifies that the party did not act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. Causation is crucial as it connects the breach of duty directly to the harm experienced; it establishes that the defendant's actions or inactions were a direct cause of the plaintiff's injury. Finally, damages reflect the actual loss suffered by the plaintiff, which can include physical harm, emotional distress, or financial losses.

This answer encapsulates the four key components of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages, making it the correct choice for identifying the essential elements necessary to prove a negligent act in a legal context.