What is tort reform?

Tort reform is an effort to change the laws governing civil matters — specifically those related to personal injury claims — to make it harder for injured parties to receive economic compensation. In Washington, tort reform is primarily focused on limiting the amount of damages that victims of accidents can recover, limiting the circumstances in which someone can be found liable for an injury, or preventing individuals from filing lawsuits altogether. It is a form of regulation that is largely lobbied for by businesses in order to protect them from expensive litigation. One of the most common arguments made in support of tort reform is that it helps lower insurance premiums. However, studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case, as insurance companies typically raise premiums to compensate for any losses related to tort reform. In addition to limiting economic compensation for victims, tort reform can also limit the amount of compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress. This can be especially damaging to victims of accidents, as these damages can often be the most difficult to quantify and measure. Finally, tort reform can limit the amount of legal fees and court costs that must be paid by the party at fault. This is often seen as a way of punishing victims for filing a lawsuit and can make it much more difficult for them to seek just compensation.

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