Tort law is an area of law that focuses on civil suits involving harm or injury, rather than criminal prosecutions. Tort law is a form of restorative justice, meaning that it seeks to make victims of harm 'whole' again by providing monetary compensation for their loss or injury. Tort law is different from contractual law as it arises between parties who are not party to a contract.

Tort law generally falls under three main categories: negligence, intentional infliction of harm, and strict liability. Negligence occurs when a party fails to act in the way a reasonable person would in a given situation, resulting in harm or injury to another party. For example, if a business owner fails to clean up spilled liquid in their store, they might be found negligent if someone slips and hurts themselves on said liquid. Intentional infliction of harm occurs when a party consciously sets out to cause harm to another party, such as a battery or assault case. Finally, strict liability occurs when a party can be held accountable for the harm caused, regardless of fault. Strict liability cases are common in product liability cases, where manufacturers are held liable for unsafe products.

When a victim of negligence, intentional harm, or strict liability brings a tort case to court, they may be entitled to a variety of damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. Every state has different laws that govern how tort cases are handled and the amounts of compensation that can be awarded. In addition, tort law also covers a wide range of topics, including privacy, defamation, and trespass.

Overall, tort law is an important area of the law that seeks to provide victims of harm with compensation for their losses and injuries. Whether the harm is caused by negligence, intentional harm, or strict liability, tort law is an integral part of the legal system that serves as a form of restorative justice.