What is Tort Law?

Tort law is one of the most important branches of law, which may seem confusing at first. If you are a university student trying to figure out what tort law is, then you have come to the right place.  At Locus Assignments, we are here as your assignment helper in the UK, and we will describe tort law in the simplest form possible.

Whether it be an essay, an exam, or just an idea that you truly want to get your head around, we will take you through everything from the meaning of 'tort law' to the types of tort law, its elements, what is negligence in tort law, and some real-world examples. Moreover, this blog will help you to study faster, write better, and be more confident in your coursework. So, let’s get started by understanding what tort law is. 

Tort Law Definition

Let’s begin with the basics: What is tort law? In layman’s terms, tort law is a sub-category of civil law that deals with situations in which a person’s actions, or sometimes inaction, have caused harm or loss to another person. Such acts are termed “civil wrongs”, and the person with the injury or loss can seek recovery in court. 

Tort Law Meaning: Tort law is all about accountability to another (typically a person or organisation) when their act has wrongfully harmed you. They could injure you physically, damage your property, cause you financial loss, or damage your reputation. Whereas criminal law is concerned with punishing an offender, tort law is concerned with putting the injured party in the position they were prior to the wrong.

According to 2025 Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics, damages claims in the UK saw a significant rise, driven by "other damages" (such as professional negligence), which increased by nearly 96% year-on-year. This shows that tort law is more active and relevant today than ever.

Aims of Tort Law

Now you know the definition and meaning of tort law. Let’s see what the aims of this law are and why it exists.  Here are the main objectives:

Restoration of the plaintiff: The main goal is to get the injured party back to the position they were in before the injury in the first place, typically through financial compensation (damages for the injury). 

Deterrence of wrongful conduct: Tort law deters all members of society from acting irresponsibly by making them pay when they cause harmful results. 

Justice: Tort law offers people their form of justice whenever they feel they have been wronged, which is independent of criminal courts.

Protection of rights: Tort law protects a person’s right to safety, to own property, and to have a reputation.

Clarification of legal duties: Tort law clarifies what others are expected to do as part of their legal duties, and when everyone is compliant, it makes society as a whole a safer place.

When you are engaged in your tort law studies, being aware of the purposes of tort law can help you develop a stronger understanding of all assignment questions. If you would like some assignment assistance related to tort law goals, our assignment helper team is here to help. Sign up now and get personalised help instantly.

Types of Torts

There are many different types of torts that you will encounter during your course. Understanding the various types of torts will help you handle assignment questions and case studies:

Negligence: To understand what is negligence in tort law, it is important to know that negligence occurs when a duty of care is breached, resulting in harm. The most common type of tort. It occurs when a person does not take sufficient care, and as a result, the careless act or omission results in harm to another person. Examples of negligence are car accidents or medical injuries.

Intentional Torts: Intentional torts are deliberate actions that cause harm, for example, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and defamation.

Strict Liability: Strict liability is when a person does not have to intend to cause harm or be careless for them to be liable for harm. Strict liability often arises as a result of dangerous activities or defective products.

Nuisance: Nuisance refers to situations that involve a person's unreasonable acts that interfere with another person's enjoyment or use of their property. Examples of nuisances include loud noises or discharges contaminating the environment.

Trespass: Trespass is going onto or interfering with someone else's land or property, even if actual harm is not or has not been committed.

If you find yourself stuck on an assignment question about these types, you can always ask our assignment writer in the UK for help with your assignment in the UK.

Elements of a Tort Case

There are several elements in a tort case that would need to be established in order to succeed in the tort case. The following is what you need to know:

Duty of Care: The Defendant (D) owed a duty in law to the Claimant (C). For instance, drivers must provide a duty of care in relation to the other users of the road.

Breach of Duty: The D breached the duty by either acting carelessly or by contravening the regulations or the law.

Causation: There must be a causal link between the breach of duty and the harm suffered.

Damages: The C must have either suffered some harm or loss.

Short Case Study: A major 2024 Supreme Court case, Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, clarified that medical professionals do not owe a duty of care to "secondary victims" (family members) who suffer psychiatric shock from witnessing a loved one's medical crisis. This is a must-cite case for 2026 assignments!

It is important that you have a good understanding of these elements for your assignments, etc. If you would like to speak with an assignment helper in the UK who can help assist you, we will be happy to share some real examples with you.

Types of damages awarded 

When a person wins a tort case, the court can award various kinds of damages. Here is a brief overview.

Nominal Damages: They are small amounts of money to acknowledge a wrong happened, even though there was little to no loss.

Compensatory Damages: They are money given to somebody to compensate them for actual loss, such as medical costs as a result of an accident or lost wages.

Aggravated Damages: They are additional compensation because of anxiety or injury caused by the actions of the defendant.

Exemplary/Punitive Damages: They are a larger sum of money meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from acting similarly.

If you are writing your assignments about damages and require examples of any of the above damages, our assignment writer in the UK can assist you with your assignment in the UK.

Defences to Tort Actions

Not every tort claim is successful. There are various defences a defendant could potentially raise, including:

Contributory Negligence: If the claimant acted carelessly, they could reduce the amount of damages.

Voluntary Assumption of Risk (Volenti): If the claimant voluntarily accepted a known risk, they may not be able to claim damages.

Illegality: If the loss was caused during the commission of an illegal act, the claim could fail.

The defences can sometimes be challenging to understand, but your assignment helper UK can help break this down into your assignments.

Tort Law versus Criminal Law

Understanding how tort law is different from criminal law can help clarify the issue:

Basis of Comparison	Tort Law	Criminal Law
Nature of Wrong	Deals with wrongs committed against an individual	Deals with offences committed against society as a whole
Main Objective	To compensate the injured party for harm or loss suffered	To punish the offender and maintain public order
Who Brings the Case	The injured person (claimant)	The State (prosecution)
Standard of Proof	Balance of probabilities	Beyond reasonable doubt
Outcome	Compensation or damages awarded to the claimant	Punishment such as imprisonment, fine, or both
Court Involved	Civil courts	Criminal courts

 

This comparison helps place tort law within the wider legal framework.

Conclusion

So, what is tort law? 

Tort law is a method of regulating the legal system for the protection of people when some harm is inflicted on them as a result of someone else's actions. It gives you a good understanding of the tort law definition, the goals of tort law, and what is negligence in tort law in practical situations. This should help you understand how the legal system operates outside of the criminal courts, or at least offer some sense of justice.

If you're still questioning, ”How do I apply all this to my assignment?”, we can help! At Locus Assignments, we provide professional support with our assignment help UK service. Whether it is any assignment or a full essay you need assistance with, our UK assignment writers are here to work with you. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is tort law in the UK?

Tort law in the UK is a part of civil law. It deals with civil wrongs that cause damage or loss to a person. The person affected can sue for compensation against the wrongdoer. Examples include negligence, defamation, and nuisance.

2. What are the 4 principles of tort law?

The four principles of tort law include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damage. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached it, caused harm, and that there was actual loss.

3. What is an example of a tort?

Examples of torts include negligence, such as a car accident due to reckless driving. Other examples include medical negligence, defamation, trespass, and nuisance that interferes with property rights.

4. What is the main purpose of tort law?

The primary purpose of tort law is to provide compensation to the wronged party. Another purpose is to prevent people from acting wrongfully.

5. Who can sue in tort law?

Anyone who has suffered harm, loss, or injury due to the wrongful act of another can sue. The plaintiff must prove that a legal duty was owed and that it was breached.

About Author

Professor Daniel Whitmore is a UK-based law professor and academic consultant with over eight years of experience teaching and supporting students across UK higher education institutions. His areas of expertise include tort law, civil law, negligence claims, and legal case analysis, along with academic writing for undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Professor Whitmore specialises in simplifying complex legal topics to help students achieve academic success.