Degree of Care

The level of prudence expected in a specific insurance context, usually measured by ordinary professional or reasonable standards.

Degree of care is the standard used to judge whether a person or organization acted reasonably under the circumstances.

In insurance disputes, degree of care often appears in liability and claims language:

  • insurers assess whether the insured’s conduct matched expected standards,
  • courts and adjusters use this standard to weigh negligence questions,
  • and settlements may turn on whether conduct was ordinary and reasonable.

Underwriting and contract use

Advisory and professional liability underwriting treats degree of care as part of risk class assumptions. Higher operational risk or poor controls can increase premiums or trigger special endorsements.

Claims logic

Policy terms may define exclusions or coverages by reference to legal standards of conduct. That is why defense strategy in claims often starts with the wording of duty and standard terms.