What must occur for negligence to be established regarding the duties performed?

To establish negligence, it is essential to identify a failure to perform a duty that is owed. Negligence involves a breach of a legal obligation or standard of care that results in harm or damage. The existence of a duty implies that an individual or entity had an obligation to act (or refrain from acting) in a certain manner. When this duty is not met — whether by not performing the required act or by performing it inadequately — a failure is recognized, which forms the basis for a negligence claim.

For instance, in the context of risk management and insurance, if a company fails to implement necessary safety protocols, resulting in an accident, this failure directly ties to the negligence claim. The focus here is on the unmet obligation, which is pivotal for establishing whether negligence has occurred.

The other options, while they may relate to performance issues in some contexts, do not directly address the foundational principle of failure to fulfill a required duty, which is crucial for asserting a negligence claim.