What is a “Duty of Care”?

Under California personal injury law, people often owe a “duty of care” to others. The duty is often created by law — for instance, teachers and daycare centers have a duty to look after children who have been left in their care. Drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws so as not to create an unreasonable risk of car accidents or pedestrian knockdowns.

Whether a duty of due care is owed — and what that duty is — depends on the circumstances.