Why would a Personal Injury Lawyer in Medicine Hat care about the meaning of elusive character? Because the actions of an alleged negligent defendant must be compared to those a reasonable person. That reasonable person might be viewed as an elusive character.
What are the primary traits exhibited by the elusive, reasonable person?
Hypothetically, that individual is prudent and careful. He or she takes the time to think about a particular situation, before taking any action. It seems logical to assume that a reasonable person would obey the law. Every law was created for a reason. Someone that elects to ignore the tenets of the law faces the chance of needing to face the consequences of such an action. Being held liable for someone else’s injuries could be one of those consequences.
It also stands to reason that someone that obeys the law would pay attention to the regulations that serve as precautionary measures. For instance, the owner of a dog must keep that pet under control, so that it does not hurt an innocent man, woman or child. By the same token, a pedestrian is expected to cross the street at an indicated location, and not at any point that he or she so desires.
A reasonable person does not spread false alarms. Such an individual would not walk into a theater and cry “fire,” unless he or she had smelled smoke or seen the flames. That sort of action could trigger a stampede. A number of innocent people might get injured during a stampede. The signaling of an unnecessary alarm could be viewed as an act of negligence.
What roles become significant, when played by a reasonable person?
A reasonable person understands how to handle a position of authority. Someone that owns a commercial property makes a point of arranging for inspection of that property. In that way the property-owner can learn about any potential hazards.
Someone that has been handed any level of authority should also assume a proper amount of responsibility. That fact should guide the actions of teachers, law enforcement officers and members of the government. The larger their level of authority, the greater, then number of people that get affected by their actions.
Not every person has the same concept for what is reasonable. Hence, someone that has the ability to affect the lives of many people gets both praise and criticism. He or she satisfies the view that some individuals have, regarding reasonable behavior.
On the other hand, the same authority figure might act in a manner that goes-against the concept that some people have, with respect to reasonable behavior. The existence of those two contrasting views highlights the nature of the elusive and reasonable character.