res ipsa loquitur - Meaning in Law and Legal Documents, Examples and FAQs Res ipsa loquitur, or 'the thing speaks for itself,' is a legal principle that means when an accident happens, it can be assumed that someone was at fault without needing a lot of extra proof. Learn about the legal doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur, which means "the thing speaks for itself", and how it is used to infer negligence in various situations. Explore the elements, history, cases, applications, limitations and comparisons of this principle in different legal systems. Introduction Res Ispa Loquitur is a phase which means that the things that speak for itself. The cases where the evidence is sufficient this maxim comes into role. This doctrine is applicable where guilt can be directly pointed out with the evidence presented. The cases where this maxim is applied the onus of proof directly shifts to the defendant. Plaintiff can use circumstantial evidence to establish the guilt by applying Res Ispa Loquitur. Objectives of Res Ispa Loquitur It promotes the ... An in-depth legal analysis of Res Ipsa Loquitur with case law references, explaining how the doctrine shifts the burden of proof to the defendant in negligence cases.
