What is the primary objective of damages in tort law?

The primary objective of damages in tort law is to compensate the victim for losses incurred. When a person suffers harm due to the wrongful acts of another, tort law aims to restore that individual as closely as possible to the position they were in before the injury or loss. This compensation typically covers various types of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other economic losses directly resulting from the tortious conduct.

While deterring future misconduct and punishing the wrongdoer are certainly important aspects of tort law, they are secondary to the primary goal of providing restitution to the harmed party. Compensation is crucial because it not only addresses the specific losses suffered by the victim but also helps to alleviate some of the hardships experienced as a result of the wrongful act. Enforcing contracts, on the other hand, falls under contract law rather than tort law, which focuses on civil wrongs and the resulting damages to individuals.