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Simple English definitions for legal terms
reasonable care
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A quick definition of reasonable care:
Reasonable care means taking the same amount of care that a normal, careful person would take in the same situation. If someone doesn't take reasonable care and someone else gets hurt, they might be responsible for the injury. But if someone does take reasonable care, they won't be responsible for the injury. For example, if someone installs water pipes that can handle freezing temperatures, they're taking reasonable care. If the pipes still burst during an unusually cold winter, they won't be responsible for the damage.
A more thorough explanation:
Reasonable Care
Reasonable care is the level of care that a normal person would take in a given situation. If someone fails to take reasonable care and someone gets hurt, they may be held responsible. On the other hand, if someone takes reasonable care, they can show that they acted responsibly and are not responsible for any harm caused. For example, in the case of Blyth v. Birmingham Waterworks Co. in 1856, the court found that the pipelayers had taken reasonable care when their pipes burst due to an unusually cold winter. They had installed the pipes to withstand freezing conditions that were normal for that city.
Imagine you are driving a car. Taking reasonable care means following traffic laws, driving at a safe speed, and paying attention to the road. If you fail to take reasonable care and cause an accident, you may be held responsible for any harm caused. However, if you take reasonable care and someone else causes an accident, you are not responsible for any harm caused.