Question from a reader:
I left an expensive item in the living room and turned off the lights while I slept in my room. When another family member went to the living room late at night, they accidentally stepped on the expensive item in the dark without noticing it. In this case, does the person who stepped on it have any
negligence?

Accidents in the Dark: Considering the Expensive Item That Was Stepped On and Its Negligence

I left an expensive item in the living room and turned off the lights while I slept in my room. In such a situation, when another family member went to the living room late at night, they accidentally stepped on the expensive item in the dark without noticing it. Legally speaking, does the person who stepped on it have any negligence? This time, I would like to think together about this question.

Let’s Organize the Background of the Accident

First, let’s organize this situation. You left an expensive item in the living room. The nature of that expensive item may change the discussion. For example, if it were an artwork or a high-end appliance that requires special attention, there might be opinions like, “Why did you leave something like that out?” Now, what about the person who stepped on it? There are various reasons for going to the living room in the middle of the night. It could be to go to the bathroom or to open the refrigerator, which are common occurrences. Actions taken in the dark involve many unpredictable elements.

Definition and Elements of Negligence

Now, let’s consider “negligence” from a legal perspective. Negligence refers to causing harm to others as a result of failing to exercise the duty of care that is normally required. For negligence to be established, the following three elements are necessary: 1. Duty of care: Whether a reasonable person should have paid attention in that situation. 2. Breach of duty: Whether that duty of care was neglected. 3. Damage and causation: Whether that breach directly led to the damage. With these three elements in mind, let’s consider this case.

From the Perspective of Duty of Care

Does the person who stepped on it have a duty of care? This is a key point. Generally, it is expected that one pays attention to protect oneself at home. Especially in the dark, being mindful of one’s feet is important. However, in this case, the presence of the expensive item in the living room was not visible in everyday life, which can be said to have led to an unexpected trouble.

Responsibility of the Person Who Placed the Item

So, do you have no responsibility for leaving the expensive item in the living room? In fact, this is a very interesting point. Generally, an owner has a duty to manage their property appropriately. This means that when leaving particularly expensive items out, one needs to pay attention to that location. However, if the living room is a shared space, other family members may also use that area. This leads to the question of whether “your act of leaving that expensive item out constitutes negligence.”

Evaluation of Causation and Damage

Next, let’s consider damage and causation. How much value the stepped-on expensive item had and how that damage occurred are important. If the item was broken, the repair costs or replacement costs may be recognized as damages. However, this also depends on how much the person who stepped on it fulfilled their duty of care. If that person was completely careless, negligence might be recognized. On the other hand, if the natural risks of acting in the dark are taken into account, the proportion of responsibility may change.

Considering a Specific Example

I have an interesting story from a friend about an accident at home. He collects high-end wines, and one night, a friend came over and accidentally stepped on a wine bottle while going to the bathroom late at night. His house was dark because they were having a party in the living room. In this case, the friend broke the wine bottle by stepping on it, but he felt that the placement of the wine was poor. Ultimately, the friend was the victim, and he recognized that he also had not fulfilled his duty of care, leading to a resolution where both shared some responsibility.

Conclusion: The Complexity of Responsibility

In this way, if you left an expensive item in the living room and turned off the lights while sleeping, it can be considered that the person who stepped on it has some negligence, but you may also be held responsible. In any situation at home, it is required to pay attention. However, this issue is not easy to conclude universally. The circumstances of the accident, the type of property involved, and the trust between family members must also be taken into account. To prevent accidents, it is indeed important to place expensive items in visible locations or manage them properly. I also thought that I should prioritize safety at home, taking my friend’s story as a cautionary tale. If you find yourself in a similar situation, please think calmly and act carefully.