Definition

1. Noun:
   • The care that a reasonable person would exercise under the circumstances; the standard for determining legal duty: "Due care" refers to the level of caution and attention that a prudent and sensible individual would use in a similar situation. It is a legal benchmark used to assess whether someone has fulfilled their obligation to avoid causing harm to others.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The court found the doctor had exercised due care in treating the patient.
  • Manufacturers must demonstrate due care in designing safe products.
  • Drivers are expected to show due care for pedestrians at crosswalks.

Advanced Usage

• "To exercise due care": To act with the proper level of caution and attention.
  • Accountants must exercise due care when auditing financial statements.
• "Failure to exercise due care": Negligence; not acting with the required level of caution.
  • The accident was caused by the driver's failure to exercise due care.
• "Standard of due care": The benchmark level of caution required in a specific context.
  • The standard of due care is higher for professionals like surgeons.

Variants and Related Words

• Reasonable care (noun): Often used interchangeably with "due care," meaning the care a reasonable person would take.
  • The law requires landowners to take reasonable care to prevent injuries.
• Duty of care (noun): A legal obligation to adhere to a standard of reasonable care to avoid causing harm.
  • Teachers have a duty of care towards their students.
• Negligence (noun): The failure to exercise due care.
  • The lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of the construction company.

Synonyms

• Reasonable care: The care expected of a prudent person.
• Ordinary care: The level of care an average person would use.
• Proper care: Appropriate and sufficient attention or caution.

Related Phrases

• Due diligence (noun): A comprehensive investigation or care taken before entering an agreement. (Note: This is a related but distinct legal and business term involving thorough research, whereas "due care" focuses on caution to prevent harm).
  • The investor conducted due diligence before purchasing the company.

Noun

1. the care that a reasonable man would exercise under the circumstances; the standard for determining legal duty