What does presumption of negligence mean?

The presumption of negligence is a legal doctrine that allows a court to assume a defendant's negligence in certain situations, typically when the harm caused is closely related to the defendant's conduct. For example, in a case involving a car accident where a driver failed to follow traffic rules, the court may presume that the driver was negligent. This presumption shifts the burden of proof to the defendant to demonstrate that they were not negligent. It is often applied in tort law to streamline cases and promote accountability.