A legal concept establishing a breach of duty occurs when an individual violates a statute or ordinance designed to protect the public, and that violation proximately causes injury to another. This essentially means that the act of violating the law itself serves as proof of negligent conduct. For example, if a driver runs a red light (a violation of traffic law) and subsequently collides with another vehicle, causing injury, the driver’s act of running the red light can be considered as demonstrating negligence.
The significance of this principle lies in simplifying the process of proving negligence in certain cases. It eliminates the need to separately demonstrate that the defendant owed a duty of care and breached that duty, because the violation of the statute itself establishes these elements. Historically, this doctrine arose to streamline litigation where a clear legislative standard of care existed, ensuring that individuals adhering to the law would be protected, and those violating it would be held accountable. It provides a more direct path to establishing liability in situations where the law clearly defines acceptable conduct.
