Torts refer to a branch of civil law that deals with civil wrongs or injuries caused to individuals or their property due to the wrongful actions or omissions of others. In simple terms, a tort is a legal wrong or harm committed by one person against another, for which the injured party can seek compensation.
Tort law covers a wide range of wrongful acts, including but not limited to:
- Negligence: Failure to exercise reasonable care that causes harm to another person or their property. For example, a car accident caused by a driver who was texting while driving.
- Intentional Torts: Intentional acts that cause harm to another person or their property. Examples include assault, battery, defamation, and trespassing.
- Strict Liability: Liability without fault, where a person can be held responsible for harm caused to another person or their property, regardless of intention or negligence. Examples include liability for dangerous activities or keeping wild animals.
- Product Liability: Liability of manufacturers or sellers for defective products that cause harm to consumers.
- Emotional Distress: Liability for causing severe emotional distress to another person through intentional or negligent actions.
- Fraud: Intentionally misleading or deceiving someone, leading to harm or loss.
Tort law serves as a means to compensate individuals who have suffered harm or injury due to the wrongful acts of others, and it aims to restore the injured party to their pre-injury state as much as possible through monetary compensation. It is an important aspect of civil law and is often studied and applied in legal systems around the world.