Some countries have supplemented the common law of tort with specific laws which codify tort and may have altered some of the general principles of common law given below. Other states, such as the Canadian Province of Quebec, have a civil law system and a totally codified set of civil liability rules. In all instances where your actual legal rights are to be determined, you should consult a legal professional. Most simply do not even try, saying that to do so would preclude one or other scopes of the branch of common law. However, we will throw caution to the wind.
Tort is derived from the Latin word tortus which meant wrong.
Tort refers to that body of the law which will allow an injured person to obtain compensation from the person who caused the injury. Every person is expected to conduct themselves without injuring others. Compensation is probably the most important social role of tort law. Tort also serves as a deterrent by holding persons responsible for their actions and to educate the community as to what is unacceptable conduct. This latter situation would be governed under the law of contract, and not tort law, and a whole different set of rules.