Tort in Rijswijk
For residents of Rijswijk, a tort is an important legal concept under Dutch law, particularly in damage claims following accidents in the municipality. It describes an act or omission that violates the law, a right, or social norms, resulting in harm to another party. In personal injury cases, such as accidents on Rijswijk roads or bike paths, it forms the basis for compensation via the Rijswijk District Court.
What Does a Tort Entail for Rijswijk Residents?
Under the Civil Code (CC), the tort is central to non-contractual injury cases. Imagine a driver causing a collision on Juliana van Stolberglaan in Rijswijk by speeding. As a resident, you can hold the at-fault party liable for your injuries. This article builds on our overview of liability in personal injury and focuses on local applications at the Rijswijk District Court.
Legal Basis
Article 6:162 CC governs the tort: "A person who, with a tortiously attributable unlawful act, causes damage to another is obliged to compensate that damage." In Rijswijk, the District Court of The Hague (Rijswijk location) frequently encounters this in traffic and accident cases.
Unlawfulness manifests in three forms:
- Violation of law or right: E.g., breaching the Road Traffic Act at Rijswijk intersections.
- Against social norms: Failing to warn about loose pavement tiles in the Municipality of Rijswijk.
- Lack of care: A scooter rider who fails to brake for a cyclist on a Rijswijk path.
Attributability (art. 6:162(2) CC) requires accountability, plus a causal connection between the act and the damage.
Essential Elements for a Claim
For a successful tort claim in Rijswijk, four requirements must be met:
- Unlawfulness: Violation of a norm, as described.
- Attributability: No force majeure for the defendant.
- Damage: Proof of costs, loss of income, or non-pecuniary loss.
- Causal link: Direct connection, often established by experts in cases at the Rijswijk District Court.
Contact the Rijswijk Legal Aid Office for free initial advice on evidence.
Examples from Rijswijk Practice
In Rijswijk, torts arise in everyday incidents. Example: You cross at a zebra crossing in the Innenkwartier, and a car runs a red light, causing whiplash. This breaches traffic rules (art. 6:162 CC); claim from the insurer for medical and income costs.
Or a medical error at a local hospital: a doctor ignores your allergy, leading to complications. This constitutes a breach of duty of care. The Supreme Court confirmed omissions as torts in 2022.
In construction: a contractor in Rijswijk leaves unsafe scaffolding at the Municipality of Rijswijk site, and a passerby falls. Social responsibility applies here.
Comparison with Other Liability
| Aspect | Tort | Risk Liability (art. 6:175 CC) | Contractual Liability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | Negligence or intent | Risk (e.g., dog bites) | Breach of contract |
| Example in Rijswijk | Accident on Rijswijk road due to recklessness | Damage by loose dog in park | Error in contracted care |
| Burden of Proof | Claimant proves | Liable without fault | Contracting party proves |
Useful for personal injury claims at the Rijswijk District Court.
Your Rights as a Rijswijk Resident
Victims are entitled to full compensation (art. 6:95 CC), including:
- Non-pecuniary loss for suffering.
- Pecuniary losses: Medical and income losses.
- Future damage: In cases of disability.
The at-fault party must cooperate. Limitation period: three years after awareness of damage and tortfeasor, or twenty years after the event (art. 3:310 CC). Start at the Rijswijk Legal Aid Office.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.