Matthew Mincone | September 10, 2025 | Florida Law
When someone gets hurt because of another person’s actions, it often falls under the legal world of tort law or personal injury law. While these two terms are closely connected, they are not exactly the same.
Understanding the difference between tort law and personal injury law can help you know your rights, what kind of case you may have, and how to move forward if you need legal help in Florida.
What Is Tort Law?
Tort law is a broad area of civil law that deals with wrongful acts. A “tort” happens when someone causes harm to another person, whether through intentional actions, careless mistakes, or strict responsibility for dangerous activities.
Unlike criminal law, which punishes wrongdoers on behalf of the state, tort law focuses on compensating the victim. In Florida, tort law covers many situations where one person’s actions or inactions cause damage to another. These can include car accidents, defective products, slip-and-fall incidents, or even intentional harm like assault.
The main purpose of tort law is to make the injured person “whole” again by awarding money damages. In simple terms, tort law is the foundation that gives people the right to seek justice when they’ve been harmed.
The Three Types of Torts
Tort law can be divided into three main categories:
- Intentional torts: When someone deliberately causes harm, such as assault, battery, or false imprisonment.
- Negligence: When someone fails to act with reasonable care, leading to accidents or injuries. Car crashes, medical malpractice, and unsafe property conditions usually fall into this category.
- Strict liability: When someone is held responsible for harm regardless of intent or negligence. For example, companies can be held liable for selling defective products that injure people.
All three types share one goal: holding people or companies accountable for the harm they cause.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law is a specific branch of tort law. It focuses on cases where a person has been physically, emotionally, or financially harmed because of someone else’s actions. While tort law is a wide umbrella that covers many wrongful acts, personal injury law is narrower and deals mainly with accidents and injuries.
In Florida, personal injury law gives victims the right to file lawsuits and recover damages. These damages can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. Personal injury law is built on the principles of negligence and fault. If someone’s careless or reckless behavior caused your injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
Key Differences Between Tort Law and Personal Injury Law
Although tort law and personal injury law overlap, there are important differences to keep in mind:
- Scope: Tort law covers a wide range of wrongful acts, including property damage and business disputes, while personal injury law is focused only on cases involving harm to individuals.
- Application: Personal injury law deals with negligence and accidents most of the time, such as traffic collisions, workplace injuries, or slip-and-fall cases. Tort law, on the other hand, also includes intentional wrongs and cases that may not involve physical injury at all.
- Legal focus: In personal injury law, the primary goal is to restore the injured person by providing compensation for their losses. In broader tort law, the case might be about stopping harmful behavior, punishing intentional actions, or preventing dangerous products from reaching the public.
In short, all personal injury cases are tort cases, but not all tort cases are personal injury cases.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Understanding how tort law and personal injury law work together is the first step in protecting yourself after an accident or injury. Tort law provides the foundation for holding wrongdoers accountable, while personal injury law focuses directly on helping victims recover from harm.
If you or a loved one has been injured in Florida, knowing the difference can help you take action quickly and effectively. With the right legal support, you can move forward with confidence and secure the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve Hillsborough County and its surrounding areas:
Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers
1925 E 6th Ave Ste 10
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 800-0810
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Tampa
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 27.9593512,-82.4369179
About The Author
Attorney Matthew Mincone is the founder of Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers. He earned his law degree while attending night programs in New York and is licensed to practice in Florida. With over 15 years of legal experience, Matthew focuses on personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents involving cars, commercial trucks, and motorcycles. His commitment to personally handling each case ensures clients receive dedicated representation. Click here to view some of the remarkable case results that Matthew has successfully achieved.
Location: Tampa, FL
