Final answer:
The legal doctrine of res ipsa loquitur means 'The thing speaks for itself' and implies negligence on the part of the defendant in an accident or injury case.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is literally interpreted as The thing speaks for itself. This doctrine refers to a legal principle where the occurrence of an accident or injury implies negligence on the part of the defendant, without the need for direct evidence of negligence. It is typically used in cases where the defendant had control over the injury-causing instrumentality, and the accident would not have occurred in the absence of negligence.