While it may seem like an odd and seldom used word, "tort" has a long history in the legal profession as referring to a civil wrong or, even simpler, an injustice against someone that brings harm or injury. Tort law, therefore, is primarily about issuing accountability for those wrongs, be they intentional, accidental/negligent, or even indirect (such as the promotion or sale of a defective or harmful product). Tort law stands out from, say, the criminal justice system in which a wrong is deemed to have a greater impact on the public and/or society at large.
Another way to separate the two in your mind is to consider the generally sought-after result as being very different. Usually. In tort or civil law, attorneys seek out damages and compensation for the victim(s) of a wrong. In criminal law, attorneys seek out punishment for the perpetrator of a specific crime. Simply put, one has to do with helping victims get back on their feet and the other has to do with legally avenging the actions of an alleged criminal.
If someone you love has been the victim of a wrongful death, a personal injury, or a motor vehicle accident, please contact the law offices of Beers and Gordon P.A. for a free consultation. Our firm serves all of Seminole, Orange, Volusia, Lake, and Brevard counties, including Oviedo, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Longwood, Winter Park, Lake Mary, and Greater Orlando. Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience ready and willing to go the distance on your case.