What is a Tort in legal terms?

A tort is defined as a civil wrongdoing that results in harm or injury to another person, which is actionable under civil law. This typically involves a breach of a legal duty that one party owes to another, leading to damages that the injured party may seek to recover through legal action. The essence of a tort is that it does not arise from a breach of contract or from a criminal act, but rather from an infringement of a duty recognized by law.

In the context of tort law, the specific actions or omissions that cause injury can vary widely, from negligence (such as a car accident due to careless driving) to intentional acts (like assault). Tort law serves to protect individuals from harm and to provide remedies for those who have suffered damages as a result of another’s conduct.

Other options provided do not capture the essence of what a tort is. For example, a criminal offense pertains to actions that are punishable by the state, and while torts may involve unlawful actions, they are handled separately in civil courts rather than through the criminal justice system. A contractual agreement is a legally binding arrangement between parties, which is unrelated to tort law. Aviation regulations, while important in their own right, do not correlate with the definition of a tort as they pert