What term describes negligence that involves failure to act as a reasonable person would?

The term that describes negligence involving the failure to act as a reasonable person would is simple negligence. This concept is foundational in tort law and refers to the basic level of negligence, where an individual's actions (or lack of actions) fall short of the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances. Simple negligence does not require any intent to cause harm or a severe degree of failure; rather, it is about the absence of the expected standard of care in everyday situations.

This contrasts with other forms of negligence, which may have additional elements or implications. For instance, gross negligence refers to a more severe degree of negligence that demonstrates a lack of any care and often involves a disregard for the safety of others. Contributory negligence is a legal doctrine that can restrict or eliminate a plaintiff's ability to recover damages if they are found to be partially at fault for their own injuries. Comparative negligence allows for the allocation of fault between parties, affecting the damage recovery based on the extent of each party's negligence. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why simple negligence is the most fitting choice for the description given in the question.