What defines a tort in legal terms?

In legal terms, a tort is defined as a civil wrong that causes loss or harm to another party, leading to legal liability. This can encompass a wide range of actions—both intentional and unintentional—that result in injury or damage to an individual’s person, property, or reputational standing. The primary focus of tort law is to provide relief to the injured party and deter others from committing similar harms.

For example, if someone is harmed in a car accident due to another driver's negligence, the injured party might pursue a tort claim to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This highlights how the essence of a tort lies not in contractual failures or criminal acts, but in addressing the wrongs that occur outside of these frameworks.

While contractual obligations pertain to agreements between parties, a tort specifically deals with civil wrongs independent of such agreements. Criminal acts focus on offenses against the state and can lead to imprisonment, which is distinct from the civil nature of tort law. Lastly, violations of property rights might seem related to torts, but they constitute only one aspect of a broader spectrum of civil wrongs that cause harm or loss. Thus, framing torts as civil wrongs captures the essence of the concept in legal