November 13, 2025 | Personal Injury
When someone suffers harm due to another person’s actions, they may have legal options to seek compensation. Many people hear terms like “tort law” and “personal injury law,” but often do not understand the differences between them. This article explains the relationship between tort law and personal injury law in simple terms.
What Is Tort Law?
Tort law is a branch of civil law that deals with situations where one person’s actions cause harm or loss to another. The main goal of tort law is to provide a legal recourse for the injured person to seek compensation for their losses. Tort law covers a wide range of situations, including accidents, property damage, and emotional distress.
There are different types of torts:
- Intentional torts: when someone deliberately causes harm, such as assault or defamation
- Negligence: occurs when someone fails to act with reasonable care, leading to an accident or injury.
- Strict liability: applies in cases where a person is held responsible for harm even if they did not act negligently, often seen in product liability cases.
Essentially, tort law is the framework that allows injured individuals to seek justice and compensation.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law is a branch of tort law. It focuses on situations where someone is physically harmed or emotionally traumatized because of another person’s negligence or wrongful act. Personal injury law helps individuals recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from an injury.
Common personal injury cases include:
Personal injury law provides the legal framework for filing a claim, negotiating settlements, or pursuing litigation in court if necessary. The key point is that personal injury law is a specialized area of tort law that deals directly with injuries to people rather than property or financial losses.
Key Differences Between Tort Law and Personal Injury Law
While personal injury law falls under the umbrella of tort law, there are some important differences. Tort law is a broader category that covers all types of civil wrongs, including harm to property, reputation, or finances. Personal injury law focuses specifically on physical harm or emotional trauma suffered by an individual.
Another difference is the type of cases handled. Tort law encompasses civil wrongs beyond contracts, including defamation, property damage, and certain business torts. Personal injury law is a subset of tort law that deals specifically with bodily or psychological harm caused by another party’s negligence, intentional conduct, or strict liability.
Understanding these differences is important for anyone seeking legal help. If you are injured in an accident, you will likely need a personal injury attorney. If the case involves broader issues like defamation or financial loss, it may fall under general tort law. Both areas rely on the concept of holding someone accountable, but the focus and application are different.
Contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC for a Free Consultation With a Scranton Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been harmed, understanding the relationship between tort law and personal injury law is crucial. Taking prompt action, understanding your legal options, and consulting with a qualified attorney are important steps toward recovering compensation and securing justice.
For more information, contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC to schedule a free consultation with our experienced Scranton personal injury attorneys. We proudly serve clients in Scranton, Kingston, Berwick, PA, as well as Columbia, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties. We’re here to fight for your rights with trusted, experienced legal support. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Scranton
436 Spruce St, Suite 100, Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 714-4878
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, Kingston
183 Market St #200, Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 714-4878
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, Berwick
120 W Front St, Berwick, PA 18603
(570) 714-4878