# Duty of care

Source: https://contracko.com/it/glossario/dovere-di-diligenza

# Duty of care

The obligation to act with the prudence and diligence that may reasonably be expected.

## Definizione

A duty of care is the legal obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing foreseeable harm to others or to their interests. In Dutch law it is context-dependent: it may flow from a contract, from a professional standard, or from the unwritten standards of proper social conduct that underpin tort liability. Breach of a duty of care is a key element of both contractual and tort claims.

## Esempio

> An advisor who fails to warn a client of an obvious risk may breach their professional duty of care.

## Perché rappresenta un rischio aziendale

A duty of care can arise even without a written contract, meaning that advice given informally or services performed without a formal agreement still carry legal obligations. Professionals in advisory roles face heightened exposure because the standard of care is calibrated to their expertise, not the average person's. Breaching a duty of care can lead to tort claims from both contracting parties and third parties who relied on the professional's conduct.

## Come gestirlo

- Document the advice or services you provide and the information available to you at the time, so you can demonstrate that you acted with appropriate care.
- Define the scope of your duty contractually: specify what you will and will not advise on, and to whom the advice is addressed.
- Maintain professional indemnity insurance calibrated to the scale of losses that could arise if your advice or service causes harm.
- Keep up to date with professional standards in your field, as the benchmark for "reasonable care" evolves with practice.

### Come aiuta Contracko

Contracko's AI review extracts and summarises the care and diligence obligations recorded in each contract, helping you track what standard of conduct you have committed to across your portfolio. Storing every signed agreement centrally means the agreed scope of your duty is retrievable if a claim arises.

## Riferimenti normativi

- [BW 6:162 Dutch Civil Code: wrongful act Diritto olandese](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005289)

Salvo diversa indicazione, i riferimenti riguardano il diritto olandese (Burgerlijk Wetboek, il Codice Civile olandese); gli strumenti UE come il GDPR si applicano in tutta l'UE. Si tratta di informazioni generali, non di consulenza legale. Altre giurisdizioni trattano questi concetti in modo diverso. Verifichi il testo vigente e la propria situazione con un avvocato qualificato.

## Rilevante per

[Settore sanitario](https://contracko.com/it/settori/sanita)[Consulenza](https://contracko.com/it/settori/consulenza)[Servizi legali](https://contracko.com/it/settori/servizi-legali)[Ingegneria e architettura](https://contracko.com/it/settori/ingegneria)

## Clausole correlate

- [Warranties Clause](https://contracko.com/it/biblioteca-di-clausole/garanzie)
- [Limitation of Liability Clause](https://contracko.com/it/biblioteca-di-clausole/limitazione-di-responsabilita)

## Termini correlati

- [Tort (wrongful act)](https://contracko.com/it/glossario/responsabilita-extracontrattuale)
- [Liability](https://contracko.com/it/glossario/responsabilita)
- [Professional indemnity insurance](https://contracko.com/it/glossario/assicurazione-responsabilita-professionale)

### Non perda mai più una scadenza contrattuale

- L'AI trova le date di rinnovo e preavviso
- Rischi e obblighi emergono automaticamente
- I promemoria La aiutano ad agire prima che le date sfuggano

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## Domande frequenti

Domande comuni su questo termine.

- **Q:** Does a duty of care exist without a contract?
  **A:** Yes. A duty of care can arise from the unwritten standards of proper social conduct under article 6:162 BW, which means informal advice or services can still carry a legal standard of care even in the absence of a formal agreement.

- **Q:** What standard applies to professionals compared with non-professionals?
  **A:** Professionals are held to the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner in their field. This is higher than the general standard and takes into account the expertise the professional holds out as having.

- **Q:** Can a contractual disclaimer remove a duty of care entirely?
  **A:** Rarely in full. While a contract can define and limit the scope of the duty, it cannot disclaim obligations that arise from statute or overriding public policy. Courts assess such clauses against reasonableness and fairness and may refuse to apply an excessively broad disclaimer.

- **Q:** Is there a statutory basis for the duty of care under Dutch law?
  **A:** The general basis is article 6:162 BW (wrongful act) for non-contractual duties and reasonableness and fairness under 6:248 BW for contractual duties. Sector-specific legislation (for example in financial services and healthcare) imposes additional statutory duties of care.

- **Q:** How does a duty of care relate to professional indemnity insurance?
  **A:** Professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover financial loss arising from a breach of the professional duty of care, whether by error, omission or negligent advice. The policy typically follows the scope of the professional's duty, so understanding that scope is essential to confirm the insurance is adequate.

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