Res Ipsa Loquitur in United Kingdom

Definition of Res Ipsa Loquitur

The principle of res ipsa loquitur when translated means ‘the thing or the happening speaks for itself.’

Res ipsa loquitur in Legal Latin

Meaning of the latin term “Res ipsa loquitur” from the University of Kent: ‘The thing speaks for itself’ – A principle often applied in the tort of negligence. If an accident has occurred a kind that usually only happens if someone has been negligent, and the state of affairs that produced accident was under the control of the defendant, it may be presumed in the absence of evidence that accident was caused by the defendant’s negligence (Scott v London and St Katherine Docks Co (1865) 3 Hurl.

& C. 596).

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See Also

• Legal Latin Maxims
• Legal Latin Quotes
• Legal Latin Dictionary