Negligence is the legal concept that someone failed to act with the level of care a reasonable person would have used in the same situation, and that failure caused harm. To prove negligence in a lawsuit, you generally need to show four things:

1. The other party owed you a duty of care.

2. They breached that duty by acting carelessly or failing to act.

3. Their actions (or inactions) directly caused your injury.

4. You suffered damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering, as a result.