What does gross negligence entail?

Gross negligence refers to a severe degree of negligence that demonstrates a blatant disregard for the safety and lives of others. This means acting with reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in a similar situation.

When someone exhibits gross negligence, they do not just fail to exercise ordinary care; instead, they engage in behavior that is significantly more careless, showing an extreme lack of concern for the consequences of their actions. This can include situations where an individual or an entity, aware of the risks, chooses to ignore them entirely, which can lead to serious harm or even fatalities.

Understanding this definition helps clarify the implications of gross negligence in legal contexts, particularly regarding liability and accountability. The other options do not fully capture the severity and specific nature of gross negligence as they either imply intentional harm, which is distinct from negligence, or they denote a lesser form of carelessness that does not meet the threshold established by the concept of gross negligence.