What is the primary purpose of tort law?

The primary purpose of tort law is to provide compensatory redress for civil wrongs. Tort law is designed to address situations where a person's actions have caused harm or injury to another individual, thereby creating a legal obligation to compensate the victim. This compensation can cover a range of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, thus restoring the injured party, as much as possible, to the position they were in prior to the incident.

Tort law serves a critical function in promoting accountability among individuals and organizations. By allowing victims to seek compensation, it also aims to deter potential harmful behavior, as individuals may think twice before engaging in actions that could lead to civil liability. This aspect distinguishes tort law from criminal law, where the focus is on punishing wrongdoers for violations of state laws. While preventing unintentional harm is an important aspect of tort law, it primarily focuses on providing remedies for those harmed by others' actions rather than merely preventing future incidents.