How is a legal duty defined in the context of negligence?

A legal duty in the context of negligence is defined as an obligation to act reasonably towards others. This concept is fundamental to negligence claims, as it establishes that individuals must conduct themselves with a certain standard of care to avoid causing harm to others. The reasonable person standard is the benchmark used to determine what constitutes reasonable behavior in various situations. When an individual fails to meet this duty of care and another party is harmed as a result, the negligent party can be held liable for any damages incurred.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the essence of a legal duty in negligence. An agreement to perform a task refers to contractual obligations, which are separate from duties of care arising in tort law. A requirement set by regulation may impose certain standards, but it does not encompass the broader concept of reasonable behavior towards others. A binding contract pertains to enforceable agreements between parties, which is again distinct from the duty of care that arises in negligence situations.