Which is a necessary component to establish a negligence claim?

In order to establish a negligence claim, proving damages is essential because damages signify that a party has suffered a loss or injury as a direct result of another party's negligent actions. Negligence entails a failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances, which can result in harm to others. If there are no damages, there is no basis for a negligence claim, regardless of whether the other elements—such as duty and breach of that duty—are present.

For example, if someone slips and falls in a store but is not injured, they may have a valid claim regarding the store's unsafe condition, but without damages, such as medical expenses or lost wages, they do not have a complete negligence claim. This underscores the importance of damages in establishing a claim of negligence.