Which aspect of tort law deals with unintentional harm?

The aspect of tort law that deals with unintentional harm is negligence. Negligence occurs when a person fails to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances, leading to unintended harm to another party. This concept is foundational in tort law, as it addresses situations where an individual's careless actions result in injury or damage to others, without the intent to harm.

For example, if a driver is not paying attention and causes an accident, they may be found negligent because they did not uphold the standard of care expected while operating a vehicle. In negligence cases, the injured party must prove that the defendant had a duty of care, breached that duty, and that breach directly caused the injury or harm.

In contrast, strict liability applies when a defendant is held liable without proof of negligence or intent to harm, typically in cases involving inherently dangerous activities. Defamation involves making false statements that harm someone's reputation, and assault refers to intentionally causing someone to fear imminent bodily harm. These aspects do not pertain to unintentional harm, which is the core focus of negligence in tort law.