Negligence in Pennsylvania

Elements

1. 1

   Duty

   The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of reasonable care in the circumstances.

2. 2

   Breach

   The defendant failed to meet that standard, they did something a reasonably careful person would not, or failed to do something they would.

3. 3

   Causation

   The breach was a factual and legal (proximate) cause of the harm. Foreseeability matters.

4. 4

   Damages

   The plaintiff suffered actual harm, medical bills, lost wages, pain, property loss.

Burden of proof

Preponderance of the evidence, more likely than not.

A Pennsylvania fact pattern

A Philadelphia SEPTA-adjacent pedestrian knockdown. Pennsylvania’s comparative-negligence statute bars recovery at 51% or more plaintiff fault.