Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

Which term describes an action demonstrating reckless disregard for safety?

1. Simple negligence

2. Gross negligence

3. Minor negligence

4. Negligent tort

The correct answer is: Gross negligence

The term that describes an action demonstrating reckless disregard for safety is gross negligence. This type of negligence goes beyond mere carelessness or lack of foresight associated with simple negligence. Gross negligence involves a significant degree of culpability, indicating that the individual acted with a blatant disregard for life, safety, or the reasonable risk of harm to others. In the context of legal definitions, simple negligence refers to a failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have under similar circumstances. It is generally associated with unintentional acts that cause harm without a conscious disregard for the duty owed to others. Minor negligence typically indicates a lower level of carelessness and is not formally recognized in legal terminology as a distinct category. A negligent tort, while related to negligence, refers to a civil wrong that results from a person's failure to exercise reasonable care, which encompasses both simple and gross negligence categories. Thus, gross negligence is the most appropriate term for actions that reveal a blatant disregard for safety.