Vahingonkorvauslaki

Vahingonkorvauslaki, or the Act on Compensation for Damages, is a Finnish statute that regulates non-contractual liability for damages caused to other persons. The law sets the general principles under which a person or organization may be required to compensate losses resulting from fault or negligence, and in some cases from strict liability for particular activities.

The act covers damages suffered by a person or their property as a result of another’s actions, including bodily injury, death, and financial or material loss. It is primarily concerned with civil liability arising outside of contractual agreements; contractual claims are typically governed by contract law, while damages arising from certain regulated activities may fall under other specific statutes.

A central feature of vahingonkorvauslaki is fault-based liability. In most situations, the claimant must show that the defendant acted with fault or negligence. In certain contexts, liability may be imposed without fault (strict liability) or arise from the holder of a hazardous activity or from an employer’s responsibility for an employee, as provided by separate rules. The act interacts with other liability regimes, such as product liability, road traffic liability, and occupational safety rules, which may govern particular types of damages.

Damages recoverable under the act aim to restore the victim to the position they would have been in had the damage not occurred. This typically includes direct costs (medical care, repairs, lost earnings) and, where appropriate, non-material losses such as pain and suffering, as determined by courts.

Claims are brought before courts, and the act provides general rules on proof, liability, and limitation periods. The vahingonkorvauslaki operates alongside the Finnish tort system, insurance law, and special liability regimes.