What is a tort?

A tort is best defined as a civil wrong that violates the rights of another individual. This legal term encompasses a wide range of wrongful acts that result in harm or loss to another person, which can lead to the injured party seeking legal remedy or damages. The purpose of tort law is to provide relief to individuals who have been harmed and to deter others from committing similar acts.

In civil law, torts can include actions such as negligence, defamation, assault, and trespass. While torts can sometimes be intentional, they can also be a result of negligence or strict liability, meaning that an individual can be held accountable for wrongful actions even if there was no intent to harm. This broad scope is what distinguishes torts from criminal acts, which are offenses against society as a whole, and from contractual agreements, which involve specific legal duties and responsibilities outlined between parties. Thus, identifying a tort simply as a civil wrong accurately encapsulates its fundamental nature within the legal framework.