What does willful negligence refer to?

Willful negligence refers to a situation where an individual consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that they are aware of, acting with a deliberate intention to ignore that risk. This involves not just a failure to take care but an intentional choice to overlook known dangers, leading to potential harm or damage. In legal contexts, this is viewed more seriously than ordinary negligence because it implies a degree of awareness and recklessness in the decision-making process.

In contrast, minor negligence typically involves less serious errors or oversights that do not carry significant harm. Accidental negligence suggests an unintentional act without malicious intent, while failing to report unsafe conditions may fall within the realm of negligence but does not capture the essence of willful disregard for known risk. The core aspect that defines willful negligence is the conscious decision to ignore something that one knows to be dangerous, making the understanding of this concept crucial in various scenarios, particularly within regulatory and safety domains.