Final answer:
Yes, it is true that negligence per se occurs if a person violates a law that carries a criminal penalty and causes injury to another, thereby breaching a legal duty and potentially leading to civil liability.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, negligence per se may occur if an individual violates a statute or an ordinance providing for a criminal penalty and the violation causes another to be injured. Under criminal law, actions that could harm or endanger others are prohibited, and violations involve established punishments.
If the legal breach is a direct cause of harm to someone, the perpetrator can also be held liable in civil court for negligence. This principle aims to protect the public by ensuring that legal standards meant to prevent harm are strictly followed. Known statutes or ordinances serve as a pre-defined duty of care, and their violation automatically demonstrates a breach of that duty if the harm caused was the sort intended to be prevented by the law.