Final answer:
The correct answer is 'liable,' meaning that a person who commits an unintentional tort is legally responsible for the harm caused, even without malicious intent.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person who commits an unintentional tort is considered liable for failing to do what a careful and reasonable person would do. When someone is liable, it means that they are legally responsible for the damages caused by their actions or inactions. In this context, the term liable is used because it implies legal responsibility without the necessity of malicious intent. The negligent individual, in a legal sense, failed to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would under similar circumstances, leading to harm or damage.