Tort Law and Public Health

Synonyms

Torts law; Law of torts; Law of delict

Definition

Tort law is one of the fields of private law. It encompasses the legal rules that attribute legal responsibility and compensation duties (liability) for damages resulting from torts. The term tort describes a wrongful, unlawful act injuring or affecting life, body, health, property or other protected right of another person. Tort law provides the prerequisites and limits of liability of tortfeasors and the extent of their obligation to compensate claimants . Main forms of tort liability are fault-based liability, strict liability and state liability.

Basis Characteristics

Background and Function

Tort law is one of the fields of private law with the highest practical relevance. The term tort law is mainly used in common-law countries, whereas the term “law of delict” prevails in civil law countries (See in Germany, where the respective part of private law is known as “Deliktsrecht” (translation: “Delicts Law”) or “Unerlaubte Handlungen...