Torts Outline
TORTS – Fall 2006
“G” = something that Goldwasser said in class
01. INTRODUCTION TO TORT LAW (p.2) • set of rules regarding liability and compensation for personal injury, death, and property damage that one party causes to another - rules for shifting losses from injured victims to the persons and companies causing injuries • grew out of a focus on bodily injury and physical property damage - now extended to include harm to reputation, privacy, emotional well-being, and economic losses • includes legislative measures related to torts and alternatives to tort liability
02. ACCIDENTS IN THE US (p.4) A. Introduction a. 2003 - accidents were responsible for 101,500 deaths, 21 million disabling injuries, and 40 million hospital emergency room visits - 5th highest cause of death - economic consequences approx. $608 billion - in 2004 approx 16% of the population did not have private insurance - less than 50% are covered by disability insurance providing wage loss protection b. tort recovery - 1) if no one was at fault, there typically will be no recovery at all 2) the expenses of tort litigation are very steep (indirectly the courts' expenses are high also) B. Accidental Deaths a. principal causes = motor vehicles (close to half), poison, falls, drowning, fires b. downward trend in accidental deaths since 1900 - lowest was in 1992 - 12/hour die c. ratio of traffic deaths to miles driven is 1.56 for every 100 million miles d. deaths in homes downward trend since 1912 but up since 1987 e. considerable reduction in workplace deaths C. Accidental Injuries a. serious accidents at home are four times more likely than in car b. seat belts reduce chance of death or injury by 50% D. Accident Costs a. 2003 - $608 billion in lost wages, medical expenses, and property damages b. 2003 - lost quality of life valued at more than $1,350 billion
“G” = something that Goldwasser said in class
01. INTRODUCTION TO TORT LAW (p.2) • set of rules regarding liability and compensation for personal injury, death, and property damage that one party causes to another - rules for shifting losses from injured victims to the persons and companies causing injuries • grew out of a focus on bodily injury and physical property damage - now extended to include harm to reputation, privacy, emotional well-being, and economic losses • includes legislative measures related to torts and alternatives to tort liability
02. ACCIDENTS IN THE US (p.4) A. Introduction a. 2003 - accidents were responsible for 101,500 deaths, 21 million disabling injuries, and 40 million hospital emergency room visits - 5th highest cause of death - economic consequences approx. $608 billion - in 2004 approx 16% of the population did not have private insurance - less than 50% are covered by disability insurance providing wage loss protection b. tort recovery - 1) if no one was at fault, there typically will be no recovery at all 2) the expenses of tort litigation are very steep (indirectly the courts' expenses are high also) B. Accidental Deaths a. principal causes = motor vehicles (close to half), poison, falls, drowning, fires b. downward trend in accidental deaths since 1900 - lowest was in 1992 - 12/hour die c. ratio of traffic deaths to miles driven is 1.56 for every 100 million miles d. deaths in homes downward trend since 1912 but up since 1987 e. considerable reduction in workplace deaths C. Accidental Injuries a. serious accidents at home are four times more likely than in car b. seat belts reduce chance of death or injury by 50% D. Accident Costs a. 2003 - $608 billion in lost wages, medical expenses, and property damages b. 2003 - lost quality of life valued at more than $1,350 billion