What characterizes an unintentional tort?

An unintentional tort is characterized by a wrongful act that occurs by accident, rather than through deliberate action. Such torts typically arise from negligence, where a person fails to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would in similar circumstances, leading to unintended harm to another party. This contrasts with intentional torts, where the perpetrator has a clear intention to cause harm or injury.

Because unintentional torts generally stem from accidents rather than intentional wrongdoing, they focus on the notion of negligence and the failure to meet established standards of care. This leads to legal responsibilities when someone's actions (or lack of action) result in harm, even if there was no intent to cause that harm. Thus, defining unintentional torts as wrongful acts done by accident encapsulates the essence of this legal concept.