In many jurisdictions, this rule is known as the "impact rule" and it requires some physical injury before negligence liability may attach. Under the traditional common law, damages for mental harms were only recoverable as part of torts like assault, battery, or false imprisonment.Negligence is the failure to behave with the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised under the same circumstances. Intentional Torts: Intentional invasion of person or property. Our leading personal injury lawyers explain the process of making a personal injury claim for a recognised psychiatric illness. This blog compares intentional torts with negligence in personal injury matters. Legal claims of negligence often require the plaintiff's attorney to show that the four essential elements of a "tort" are present. (2) Everyone should exercise reasonable care and caution in the conduct of their affairs. The issue was not whether the defendant had taken reasonable. Every person must act toward others with the caution and prudence that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would use.