What doctrine indicates that negligence can be inferred from the mere occurrence of an event?

The correct answer is Res Ipsa Loquitur, which is a legal doctrine that allows negligence to be presumed based on the nature of an accident or injury. This principle operates under the assumption that certain events do not happen without negligence. For instance, if a surgical instrument is left inside a patient after surgery, the very occurrence of this event supports the inference that negligence likely took place, as it is an unusual occurrence that typically wouldn’t happen without someone being at fault.

Res Ipsa Loquitur serves an important purpose in legal contexts, allowing plaintiffs to establish a case of negligence when direct evidence of negligence is lacking. This relieves them of the burden of providing specific proof that a party was negligent, as the circumstances themselves indicate that negligence must have occurred.

In contrast, the Duty of Care refers to the legal obligation to adhere to a standard of reasonable care. Per Se Negligence involves violations of a statute or regulation that automatically constitutes negligence. Negligent Behavior refers more broadly to actions or failure to act that leads to harm but does not encapsulate the concept of inferring negligence from the event itself. Thus, Res Ipsa Loquitur is the most accurate description of this principle in the context of negligence law.