Personal Injury Attorneys

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA

What is a "Tort?"

A tort is a civil wrong involving implied responsibility, not a contract. Personal injury lawsuits fall under tort law. Tort law requires people to avoid causing injuries and property damage to others. A tort occurs when someone's actions or inaction causes harm to another person or another person's property.

Common torts

On the surface that may all sound vague. To clear things up a bit, here are some common examples of torts:

• Auto accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and fall
• Asbestos exposure
• Defective medications
• Negligent security
• Drowning accidents
• Assault
• Police brutality

Negligence

Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care. It is the unintentional cause of harm. Auto accidents and slip and fall typically fall under negligence.

Strict liability

Defective products, including defective drugs, usually fall under strict liability. Negligence does not have to be present, and neither does intentional wrongdoing. It falls somewhere between negligence and intentional wrongdoing, when a product or action is so dangerous that it still causes harm even if precautions are taken.

Intentional wrongdoing

Intentionally harming a person or property falls under intentional wrongdoing. You are probably asking yourself, "wouldn't that be a crime?" Yes, in many cases intentional wrongdoing results in criminal charges, but it can also be brought as a civil suit. There are many differences between civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases require a much higher standard of proof, and focus on punishment, not on compensating the victim. A civil lawsuit focuses on compensation for harm and losses, and may or may not involve punitive damages. Civil lawsuits do not determine whether or not a person goes to jail for their actions.

We believe every case is unique and requires special personal attention. If you have a need for a personal injury attorney in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C., please email or call us for a free and confidential consultation.

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