Which type of tort does not require intent to harm?

Negligent torts are unique in that they do not require an intention to harm. Instead, they are based on a failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in unintended damage or injury to another person. The core principle of negligent torts is that individuals are expected to act with a certain standard of care; if they fail to do so and this results in harm, they can be held liable.

For example, if a driver is not paying attention and causes an accident that injures another person, that driver may not have intended to cause harm, but their negligence led to the injury. This contrasts with intentional torts, where the perpetrator acts with the purpose or a significant likelihood of causing harm.

Criminal torts often involve violations of laws that are prosecuted by the state, and innocent tort is not a recognized legal category in tort law. Therefore, recognizing that negligent torts are defined primarily by the absence of intent to harm is crucial for understanding liability in such cases.