Tort law is different from the laws of contract, restitution, and the criminal law. Contract law protects the parties involved when expectations arise from promises, restitution prevents unjust enrichment and compensation for wrong doing, and criminal law punishes crimes that are so severe (like murder, rape, fraud) that society has a direct interest in preventing and dealing with them. Note that many wrongs can result in liability to both the state (as criminal activity and proceedings) and to the victims (as torts).
Tort law serves to protect an individual’s interest in their bodily security, tangible property, financial resources, or reputation. Interference with one of these interests is usually met by an action for compensation, most usually in the form of unliquidated damages. The law of torts aims to restore the injured individual to the position they were in before the tort was committed (the expectation or rightful position principle).

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