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It might seem desirable to always let a person who has suffered harm claim compensation from the wrongdoer. But this turns out to be impractical because:
- There are endless ways in which one person might harm another. If a claim for compensation were allowed in every case, the courts would soon be overwhelmed.
- The costs of paying compensation can become so burdensome that people might stop doing things that are useful to the community - for example, providing medical or transport services.
- Considerations of fairness and justice suggest that a person should not be made liable for innocent mistakes, as opposed to deliberate or careless conduct that causes harm.
So it is necessary to strike a balance between the interests of the individual who wants to be compensated for harm, a society that wants to encourage constructive activities, and a legal system that aims at justice. This balance is achieved by rules that place limits on an injured person's right to claim compensation from the wrongdoer.
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