Legal Definitions - natural presumption

A natural presumption (sometimes called a "presumption of fact" or "inference") is a logical conclusion or assumption that a judge or jurymay draw based on common sense, everyday experience, or the ordinary course of human events. Unlike a "presumption of law," which is a rule that legally requires a certain conclusion unless disproven, a natural presumption is a permissible inference. It means that if certain facts are established, it is reasonable to assume another fact is true, unless there is evidence presented to suggest otherwise.

Here are some examples illustrating a natural presumption:

• Example 1: Mail Delivery

  If a person properly addresses a letter, applies the correct postage, and places it in an official mailbox, there is a natural presumption that the letter will be delivered to the intended recipient in due course. This presumption arises from the common experience of how postal services operate. If the sender later claims the recipient never received an important notice, a court might naturally presume it was delivered unless the recipient provides credible evidence (like a returned letter or a sworn statement of non-receipt) to rebut that presumption.

• Example 2: Damaged Goods

  Imagine a delivery truck arrives at a store, and a large crate on the truck is visibly crushed and torn on one side. There is a natural presumption that the goods inside that crate are also damaged. This inference comes from the common understanding that external damage often indicates internal damage. While it's possible the contents are miraculously intact, a court or insurance adjuster would naturally presume damage unless an inspection proves otherwise.

• Example 3: Rear-End Collision

  In a traffic accident where one car strikes another from behind, there is a natural presumption that the driver of the rear car was at fault, perhaps for following too closely or not paying attention. This presumption is based on the common understanding of safe driving practices and traffic laws. However, this is not an absolute rule; the rear driver could present evidence (e.g., that the front car suddenly stopped without warning, or had non-functional brake lights) to rebut this natural presumption and show they were not at fault.