What is the purpose of the Tort of Negligence in terms of remedies?

• A. Protects people from wrongful conduct by others and gives claimants the right to sue for compensation or possibly an injunction to restrain the conduct
• B. Creates criminal penalties for negligent acts
• C. Allows only the state to pursue claims
• D. Eliminates civil claims for negligence

Answer: (A)

The aim of the tort of negligence in terms of remedies is to provide civil redress for harm caused by someone’s careless conduct. When negligence is proven, the typical remedy is damages—financial compensation to cover injury, loss, and damage, aiming to put the claimant back in the position they would have been in if the negligence hadn’t occurred. In appropriate cases, a court can also grant an injunction to restrain the negligent conduct from continuing or repeating, especially when ongoing risk or ongoing harm makes damages insufficient. This framework is civil, not criminal, so penalties come through criminal law rather than tort. The state does not exclusively pursue these claims, and civil claims for negligence are not eliminated; they are the standard way individuals seek redress for harm caused by others’ carelessness.