You may have heard the terms “negligence” and “malpractice” used interchangeably, but there are clear differences between the two legally. If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, it’s important to understand the difference between the terms, as your case may proceed differently depending on the circumstances of your accident.

In general, negligence involves a person’s failure to exercise care in a way that a reasonable person would have done in a similar situation. The majority of personal injury claims revolve around this idea. Malpractice, however, is a type of negligence that specifically relates to licensed professionals who fail to provide services that meet the required standard of care. Most personal injury claims revolving around malpractice are the result of a negligent doctor.