care

Watchful attention; concern; custody; diligence; discretion; caution; opposite of negligence or carelessness; prudence; regard; preservation; security; support; vigilance. To be concerned with, and to attend to, the needs of oneself or another. In the law of negligence, the amount of care demanded by the standard of reasonable conduct must be in proportion to the apparent risk. As the danger becomes greater, the actor is required to exercise caution commensurate with it. Foy v. Friedman, 280 F.2d 724.

There are three degrees of care which are frequently recognized, corresponding (inversely) to the three degrees of negligence, viz.:

slight care,

ordinary care, and

great care.

This division into three degrees of care, however, does not command universal assent.

- ordinary care

- reasonable care

@ great care

Great care is such as persons of ordinary prudence usually exercise about affairs of their own which are of great importance; or it is that degree of care usually bestowed upon the matter in hand by the most competent, prudent, and careful persons having to do with the particular subject. A high degree of care is not the legal equivalent of reasonable care. It is that degree of care which a very cautious, careful, and prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances; a degree of care commensurate with the risk of danger.

@

- due care

- highest degree of care

@ utmost degree of care

Highest degree of care and utmost degree of care have substantially the same meaning. "highest degree of care" only requires the care and skill exacted of persons engaged in the same or similar business. It means the highest degree required by law where human safety is at stake, and the highest degree known to the usage and practice of very careful, skillful, and diligent persons engaged in the same business by similar means or agencies.

See also diligence

- due care

- reasonable care

- support

@

- diligence

- support