Language
Civil Law
Within civil law (as opposed to criminal law), the branches of contract law and tort law have several differences as well as similarities with one another. This interrelationship is most attributed to the evaluation of damages within contract and tort cases.
In its simplest form, contract law imposes duties on parties who enter into an agreement (contractual relationship. Within this agreement, both parties are expected to act reasonably toward one another (referred to as vis-à-vis). If either party breaches their duty to perform what is outlined in the contract, contract law aims to provide damages to the injured party. Typically, damages are awarded with the intent to restore the injured party to where they were before the breach occurred, or as if the contract had been performed. Under tort law, members of a community are expected to act reasonably toward everyone else within the community. Tort law is based on the premise that people are liable for their actions. If someone’s careless actions injure another person, they may face consequences—whether their actions were intentional or accidental. Tort law aims to compensate victims for any injuries or damages suffered by the unreasonable acts of others.