In legally defined, tort lawsuits, tort laws, are a body of civil laws, also known as equity or justice, that governs disputes between individuals and organizations. Unlike civil law, there is no formal government or institution that governs tort law. Instead, tort laws are governed by case law or the decisions and opinions of special tribunals known as juries, which are selected by the court system based on the testimony and evidence provided by witnesses. In many instances, juries may take into account any kind of proof that tends to undermine the defendant’s defense.
Tort lawsuits arise when an individual feels wronged, mentally suffering harm, physically injured, psychologically injured, or otherwise injured by another.
These injuries can arise in a number of situations, including vehicle accidents, product defects, professional malpractice, negligence, advertising claims, and premises liability. In the United States, these lawsuits have been broadly used in recent decades, with millions of Americans being awarded compensation for personal injury. Tort laws aim to ensure that citizens are not unjustly punished for acts of other people. They allow juries to act as an objective third party to determine whether there was actually and proximately damage caused, whether the plaintiff was injured in any way, and whether the injury was serious permanent, or temporary, and if so what damages resulted from the harm.
There are two major components of tort lawsuits. On one hand, civil suits try to hold corporations, their officers, and their employees accountable for the harms done to a victim.
A person filing a civil suit must prove that a corporation, its officers, or its employees was responsible for the wrongful act of another. In addition to holding an entity responsible for damages, civil lawsuits also seek to hold a person liable for wages lost, medical bills paid for, property damage, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and other fees and costs.
Medical malpractice is a major cause of tort lawsuits nationwide.
Medical malpractice is when a health care provider intentionally commits a medical error that causes injury, illness, or death to a patient. Damages can be awarded to victims who suffered injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and various other financial losses. Medical malpractice lawsuits arise when victims claim that they have been injured due to the negligence of a doctor or health care provider.
Product liability torts are another category of tort lawsuits.
In the case of product liability, manufacturers or suppliers are held responsible for selling defective products that injure the consumers. In many cases, manufacturers will be found liable for using inadequate information and manufacturing dangerous products. Criminal torts involve claims of assault, slander, or libel. These claims are usually filed against corporations, although individual homeowners can file for personal injury claims as well. Personal injury torts are most commonly involved in automobile accidents, but they can also occur in employment situations.
Other types of tort are civil wrongs, which include damages for personal and professional harms received by a public official or member of the public.
Punitive damages can also be awarded in cases involving errors or negligence in hiring, promotions, and contracts. In the United States, these torts are governed by Civil Rights laws.
