Vermont & New Hampshire Injury Blog

What is a Tort?

Van Dorn & Curtiss specializes in tort law.  There are three major kinds of torts: negligent torts, intentional torts, and strict liability torts. These are discussed in detail in our library articled titled “What is a Tort?  A brief overview of negligent torts, intentional torts, and strict liability.”   The purpose of the article is to provide our clients and potential clients with substantive information regarding civil law because we believe an informed legal consumer is our best client. Negligent torts and civil suits based upon principles of negligence.  “Negligence” is the failure to exercise the type of care that a reasonable person would under the same circumstances. For example, drivers have a duty to operate their motor vehicles in a reasonable fashion.  If a driver fails to act reasonably, or safely, as another driver would under the same circumstances, that person has breached their duty of care and civil suit may be brought to recover damages resulting from the breach of that duty. Intentional torts are civil wrongs resulting from the intentional actions of another person. These are also commonly referred to as battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass, nuisance, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Although many intentional torts are punishable through the criminal justice system, civil law compensates the victim for any damages incurred.Strict liability is a tort, which holds a person responsible for harm caused by their actions regardless of their subjective culpability or fault. These cases typically arise in the context of defective products or animal attacks.

Van Dorn & Curtiss frequently represents victims of negligent torts, intentional torts, and strict liability torts.  For more information about these types of injuries, visit some of our practice area pages such as personal injury; automobile accidents; wrongful death; product liability; and pet attacks.