Which of the following best describes an unintentional tort?

An unintentional tort occurs when an individual causes harm to another person not through deliberate action but rather through negligence or an accident. This means that the person did not intend to cause injury but failed to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in a similar situation. For example, if a healthcare worker accidentally spills a liquid on the floor and another person slips and falls as a result, the spill represents unintentional harm because there was no intention to cause injury.

The other options describe different legal concepts. Deliberately causing harm refers to intentional torts where the intent to harm is evident. Defining responsibilities in a contract relates to contractual obligations and does not involve tort law. Taking action that is legally justified relates to legal defenses that might absolve a person from liability, again separate from the concept of unintentional torts. Therefore, understanding that unintentional torts stem from accidents or negligence is crucial in the context of legal and medical practice.