To succeed in a negligence suit against an athletic trainer, which element must be established?

In a negligence suit against an athletic trainer, the crucial element that must be established is that the athletic trainer had a duty to provide reasonable care, and this duty was breached. This concept stems from the standard that professionals, including athletic trainers, have an obligation to adhere to a certain level of care that a reasonably competent person in their position would provide. Establishing this duty requires demonstrating that the trainer was responsible for the safety and well-being of the athletes under their care.

Once it's established that the trainer had a contractual or professional responsibility towards the athlete, the next step is to show that they failed to meet the accepted standard of care in their duties. This breach can involve any number of actions—ranging from failure to provide adequate treatment, neglecting to perform required assessments, or not following established protocols that ensure athlete safety.

The other elements presented in the question do not pertain directly to the fundamental requirements of a negligence claim against an athletic trainer. For example, malice relates more to intentional wrongdoing rather than negligence. Similarly, focusing on injuries stemming from intentional acts or insurance coverage does not address the core aspect of negligence, which revolves around the failure to adhere to the standard of care expected in the athletic training profession. Thus, establishing the existence of