{"id":13189,"date":"2026-08-13T11:00:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-74-180-255.nip.io\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-does-negligent-mean\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T13:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T13:06:02","slug":"what-does-negligent-mean","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-does-negligent-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Negligent: What It Means, in Plain Language | CHG"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-048755b4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:4rem;padding-bottom:4rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">What Does Negligent Mean?<\/h1>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.625), 1.25rem);\">The word lawyers use when someone&#x27;s carelessness causes an injury, explained in plain language for you and your family. Igor Hernandez and our team at CHG Personal Injury Lawyers are here to answer your questions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Request a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Request a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">About CHG Personal Injury Lawyers<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--heart chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Free<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">First consultation, confidential and with no obligation to continue<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--location chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Florida<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Florida-based firm serving clients throughout the state<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--shield chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Licensed<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Attorneys admitted to The Florida Bar<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published October 21, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n\n<p><strong>What does negligent mean? Being negligent means failing to take the reasonable care a careful person would take in the same situation.<\/strong> This failure can happen in two ways. You do something unsafe, or you fail to do something you should. When that carelessness seriously hurts another person, the law calls it negligence.<\/p>\n<p>You may be here for one of two reasons. Maybe you want to know what the word means. Or maybe someone you love was badly hurt, and you keep hearing that a driver, a company, or a property owner was &#8220;negligent.&#8221; This page answers both. It starts with the everyday meaning, then explains how the word applies to real situations: car crashes, slip-and-falls, truck crashes, and attacks that happen on someone else&#8217;s property.<\/p>\n<h2>What does the word &#8220;negligent&#8221; mean in everyday language?<\/h2>\n<p>In everyday language, &#8220;negligent&#8221; describes a person or company that is careless. It means not paying attention to a responsibility. A negligent person isn&#8217;t being careful with something they were supposed to watch over.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some plain examples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Forgetting to lock a door you were supposed to lock.<\/li>\n<li>Ignoring a hazard you already know about, like a wet floor in a store aisle.<\/li>\n<li>Looking at your phone instead of the road.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Negligence is different from intentional harm. A negligent person usually did not <em>mean<\/em> to cause damage. They were simply careless. That difference, careless versus deliberate, is where the everyday word and the legal word start to line up.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic, life-altering injury, we are here to listen. Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What does negligent mean in the law?<\/h2>\n<p>The heart of the idea is the <strong>&#8220;reasonable person&#8221; standard<\/strong>. The law asks a simple question: what would a careful, sensible person have done in the same spot? If someone did much worse than that, they may have been negligent.<\/p>\n<p>This is the bridge from the dictionary word to the courtroom word. &#8220;Careless&#8221; in ordinary speech becomes &#8220;fell below the standard of reasonable care&#8221; in law. This page is general education about the word. It is not legal advice about your situation.<\/p>\n<h2>Is negligence the same as a mistake?<\/h2>\n<p>Not every accident is negligence. Sometimes bad things happen and no one was careless. That is an unavoidable accident, not a legal wrong. The law asks whether someone failed to act as carefully as they should have, and whether that failure caused injury.<\/p>\n<h2>The four elements: what must be shown<\/h2>\n<p>Lawyers call these the four elements of negligence.<\/p>\n<h3>Duty<\/h3>\n<h3>Breach<\/h3>\n<p>They failed to meet that duty. Say a trucking company puts a tired driver who has been on the road for too many hours back behind the wheel. That likely breaks its duty.<\/p>\n<p>Florida law also addresses hiring. In a civil action for injury caused by an employee&#8217;s intentional tort, an employer is presumed not to have been negligent in hiring if, before hiring, it conducted a background investigation that did not reveal information reasonably demonstrating the person&#8217;s unsuitability. That investigation must include a criminal background check obtained from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a reasonable effort to contact references and former employers, a job application asking about criminal convictions and prior intentional-tort lawsuits, and either a driver license record check (if relevant, with written authorization) or an interview. The investigation must not have revealed any information that reasonably demonstrated the person&#8217;s unsuitability for the particular work or for the employment in general (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.096.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 768.096<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3>Causation<\/h3>\n<p>The carelessness actually caused the injury. There must be a real link between the failure and the harm. If the crash would have happened anyway, that link may be missing.<\/p>\n<h3>Damages<\/h3>\n<p>The injured person suffered real harm: medical bills, permanent disability, lost income, or the death of a family member.<\/p>\n<p>Proving causation and damages in a catastrophic-injury case takes time. It usually means gathering medical records, working with doctors and crash-reconstruction experts, and documenting a lifetime of future care.<\/p>\n<p>Take a spinal cord injury as an example. Doctors often grade it using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale, which shows how &#8220;complete&#8221; or &#8220;incomplete&#8221; an injury is. That grade shapes a person&#8217;s outlook and the cost of their future care, so it matters to the claim.<\/p>\n<h2>What are the three types of negligence?<\/h2>\n<p>Three terms come up most often: ordinary negligence, gross negligence, and comparative negligence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ordinary negligence<\/strong> is everyday carelessness. It is conduct that falls below the reasonable-care standard. An example is a store that fails to clean up a spill it knew about.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gross negligence<\/strong> is far more serious. It is an extreme or reckless disregard for others&#8217; safety. A company that knows about a serious danger and ignores it may cross into gross negligence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Comparative negligence<\/strong> is about shared fault. Sometimes more than one person is partly to blame. Florida uses a modified comparative-negligence rule under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.81.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 768.81<\/a>. The rules are explained in the next section.<\/p>\n<h2>If I was partly at fault, can I still recover?<\/h2>\n<p>This is the question that stops many injured people from calling a lawyer. The answer under Florida&#8217;s statute is more hopeful than most people expect.<\/p>\n<p>Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.81.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 768.81<\/a>, in a negligence action, contributory fault chargeable to the claimant &#8220;diminishes proportionately the amount awarded as economic and noneconomic damages for an injury attributable to the claimant&#8217;s contributory fault, but does not bar recovery, subject to subsection (6).&#8221; In plain terms, a finding that you share some blame reduces the amount you can recover. It does not automatically end your claim.<\/p>\n<p>The bar comes at a higher line. Under the same statute, in a negligence action to which the section applies, any party found to be greater than 50 percent at fault for his or her own harm &#8220;may not recover any damages.&#8221; So the claim is barred only above 50 percent fault, and this bar does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766.<\/p>\n<p>There is one important exception. Florida Statute \u00a7 768.81(6) provides that a party found greater than the statutory threshold at fault for his or her own harm may not recover damages, but this subsection does not apply to an action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence pursuant to chapter 766 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.81.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 768.81<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Federal law sets its own rules for some claims. For example, 46 U.S.C. \u00a7 30304 provides that &#8220;contributory negligence of the decedent is not a bar to recovery&#8221; in an action under that chapter, and that &#8220;the court shall consider the degree of negligence of the decedent and reduce the recovery accordingly.&#8221; Which rules apply depends on the kind of claim and where it arose, so it is worth asking early.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-who-uses-a-p-photo-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"A family member tenderly supporting a loved one who uses a power wheelchair at home.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Negligence in real life: four situations families recognize<\/h2>\n<p><strong>A car crash.<\/strong> A driver runs a red light, and a parent is seriously hurt. The question is whether the driver failed to use reasonable care, and whether that failure caused the injury. If the injured person was also partly at fault, the comparative-fault rules above decide how the damages are reduced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A slip-and-fall.<\/strong> A shopper falls on a wet floor with no warning sign, and breaks a hip. The store had a duty to keep the floor reasonably safe. If it knew about the spill or should have, the question becomes whether that carelessness caused the fall and the medical bills, lost work, and recovery that followed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A truck crash.<\/strong> A commercial truck driver is exhausted, and the company kept dispatching him. A family&#8217;s world changes in seconds. Proving negligence here often means looking at the company&#8217;s hiring, training, and scheduling decisions, not just the moment of impact.<\/p>\n<p><strong>An attack on someone else&#8217;s property.<\/strong> A woman is assaulted in an apartment complex parking garage. The lights were out, the gate was broken, and the cameras had not worked for months. Her family is left asking whether this could have been prevented. That question is where the legal term below comes in.<\/p>\n<h2>When a property owner&#8217;s carelessness lets someone get hurt<\/h2>\n<p>Suppose you or a loved one were assaulted, shot, robbed, or attacked. Maybe it happened at an apartment complex, a parking lot or garage, a hotel, a bar, a gas station, or a store. You may wonder whether anyone besides the attacker is responsible.<\/p>\n<p>You might have a claim against the property owner. That can mean working locks and gates, good lighting, security cameras, or guards.<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers call this kind of claim <strong>negligent security<\/strong>, a type of premises liability (a property owner&#8217;s legal responsibility for safety on their property). You do not need to know that term to have a question worth asking. What matters is whether you were hurt because someone failed to keep the property reasonably safe.<\/p>\n<h2>How negligence relates to medical malpractice and other serious harm<\/h2>\n<p>Medical malpractice is negligence by a healthcare provider. It happens when a doctor, nurse, or hospital fails to give reasonable, careful treatment, and that failure causes serious harm.<\/p>\n<p>Negligence is the legal foundation for many catastrophic-injury claims. These include <a href=\"\/resources\/truck-accidents\/\">truck crashes<\/a>, <a href=\"\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury\/\">traumatic brain injuries<\/a>, <a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injuries\/\">spinal cord injuries and paralysis<\/a>, <a href=\"\/resources\/amputation-injuries\/\">amputations<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/resources\/severe-burn-injuries\/\">severe burns<\/a>. In each one, the core questions are the same. Did someone fail to take reasonable care? And did that failure cause the harm?<\/p>\n<p>Timing matters. Florida sets filing deadlines for negligence and personal-injury claims, and missing one can end an otherwise valid claim. Waiting can also make it harder to gather evidence while it is still fresh. So it is wise not to wait.<\/p>\n<h2>Think someone&#8217;s negligence caused a serious injury? Talk to a lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>A lawyer looks closely at the facts, the duty involved, and the harm caused. That is how you find out whether a situation meets the legal definition of negligence and how shared fault might affect it.<\/p>\n<p>If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic, life-altering injury, we are here to listen. We are also here if your family lost a loved one. CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based firm that serves people throughout Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Our lawyers are licensed to practice law in Florida, and we serve clients in English and Spanish. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.<\/p>\n<p>The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue. CHG charges no attorney&#8217;s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Contact us for a free case evaluation.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What does negligent mean?<\/summary><p>Negligent means being careless. It means failing to take the reasonable care a careful person would take in the same situation. This matters most when that carelessness causes harm.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Is negligence a mistake?<\/summary><p>Not every mistake is negligence. A mistake counts as legal negligence only when three things are true: there was a duty of care, that duty was broken, and the breach caused real harm.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What does gross negligence mean?<\/summary><p>Gross negligence means an extreme or reckless disregard for the safety of others. It is much more serious than ordinary carelessness.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What does comparative negligence mean?<\/summary><p>Comparative negligence means fault can be shared. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.81.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7 768.81<\/a>, shared fault reduces the damages a person can recover and does not automatically bar the claim. A party found greater than 50 percent at fault &#8220;may not recover any damages.&#8221; That bar does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Can a property owner be negligent if I was attacked on their property?<\/summary><p>Sometimes, yes. If the owner failed to provide reasonable security, such as working locks, lighting, cameras, or guards, and you were hurt as a result, they may share responsibility.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How long do I have to file a negligence claim in Florida?<\/summary><p>Florida sets filing deadlines for most personal-injury and negligence claims, and they depend on the type of claim and when the injury occurred. Missing a deadline can end an otherwise valid claim, so contact the firm promptly to find out which deadline applies to your situation.<\/p><\/details><\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>This is attorney advertising. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Cornish Hernandez Gonzalez, PLLC, 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 300, Coral Gables, FL 33134.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Key ideas in plain language<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--document\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facts decide the question<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether a specific event involved negligence depends on what happened, where, and who was responsible for keeping people safe.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--users\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Families are affected too<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a loved one is hurt or killed, the people left behind often face medical bills, lost income, and difficult decisions.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not every mistake is negligence<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please do not draw conclusions about your own situation on your own. Speak with our team so the facts can be reviewed.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Talk with our team<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Talk with our team<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">If you or someone you love was hurt<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get medical care first<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow your doctors&#x27; advice and keep every appointment and record. Your health comes first.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Write down what you remember<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note the date, time, place, and what happened while the details are still fresh. Include names of anyone who saw the event.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep your records<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Save medical bills, photos, receipts, and any letters from insurance companies or property owners.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ask for a free consultation<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our team can explain how the facts of your situation are reviewed. The first consultation is confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Questions about an injury or the death of a loved one? You do not have to sort it out alone.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related practice areas<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury\/\">Spinal Cord Injuries: A Guide for Victims and Families Facing Paralysis<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/glossary\/paralysis\/\">Paralysis<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<!-- chg:section-siblings -->\n<nav aria-label=\"More in this section\">\n<h2>More in this section<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-is-the-negligent-security-law-in-florida\/\">What is the negligent security law in Florida?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/do-people-go-to-jail-for-negligence\/\">Do people go to jail for negligence?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/how-much-jail-time-do-you-get-for-negligent-homicide\/\">How much jail time do you get for negligent homicide?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/jacksonville\/\">Negligent Security in Jacksonville<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-are-the-4-proofs-of-negligence\/\">What are the 4 proofs of negligence?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<!-- \/chg:section-siblings -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Negligent meaning in plain English: what it means to be negligent and why it matters if someone&#8217;s carelessness hurt you in Florida. Free consultation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-does-negligent-mean\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"es\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/es\/abogado-lesion-seguridad-negligente\/que-significa-negligente\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/negligent-security-injury-lawyer\/what-does-negligent-mean\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"about\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Spinal cord injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spinal_cord_injury\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Paralysis\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paralysis\"}], \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"CHG Personal Injury Lawyers\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/\"}, \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"headline\": \"What does negligent mean? 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It means failing to take the reasonable care a careful person would take in the same situation. This matters most when that carelessness causes harm.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is negligence a mistake?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Not every mistake is negligence. A mistake counts as legal negligence only when three things are true: there was a duty of care, that duty was broken, and the breach caused real harm.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does gross negligence mean?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Gross negligence means an extreme or reckless disregard for the safety of others. It is much more serious than ordinary carelessness.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does comparative negligence mean?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Comparative negligence means fault can be shared. Under Fla. 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