Louisiana Private Investigator Licensing Practice Exam

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of intentional torts?

1. Injuries caused by negligence

2. Actions committed without any intent

3. Purposeful actions to cause harm

4. Actions resulting from accidents

The correct answer is: Purposeful actions to cause harm

Intentional torts are defined by the deliberate actions taken by an individual with the intent to cause harm or offense to another person. This means that the very essence of an intentional tort lies in the purposeful nature of the act. The perpetrator consciously engages in behavior designed to yield a harmful outcome, differentiating it from negligence or accidents, where harm occurs without the intention to cause it. In the context of the other options, injuries caused by negligence typically arise from carelessness rather than intentional actions. Actions committed without any intent do not fall under the category of intentional torts, as there is no aim to cause harm. Similarly, actions resulting from accidents highlight unintentional incidents, further distinguishing them from the purposeful conduct characteristic of intentional torts. Thus, the accurate representation of intentional torts is captured by the characteristic of purposeful actions to cause harm.