Personal InjuryWhat is the difference between a tort and a crime?

December 23, 2009

A tort is essentially a legal dispute between two individuals. One individual has been accused of committing a civil wrong against the other individual. The party who was wronged can bring a civil lawsuit against the party who caused their injuries and seek financial compensation for their losses.

A crime, on the other hand, is considered to be a wrong committed against society as a whole. Whereas the remedy for a tort is a civil lawsuit, crimes are redressed through criminal prosecution by the state of the offender.

Sometimes an act is both a crime and a tort. Battery (the use of force against another person that results in bodily injury), for example, is a crime in Texas punishable by law. However, it is also a tort and could serve as the basis for a personal injury lawsuit. Whether or not the wrongdoer is prosecuted and/or convicted does not have a legal effect on the injured party’s ability to bring a civil lawsuit.

For free legal advice about Texas personal injury lawsuits, contact the law firm of Nachawati Law Group today. To speak with one of our Texas personal injury lawyers, simply email us or call our toll free number at 1.866.705.7584.

———

About Nachawati Law Group
Nachawati Law Group represents parties in mass tort litigation, businesses and governmental entities in contingent litigation, and individuals in complex personal injury litigation. For more information, visit contact [email protected] or call 214-890-0711.