Final answer:
Tort damage awards are greater in the U.S. due to a plaintiff-friendly legal system, a prevalent jury system which tends to award larger sums, and a legal culture emphasizing personal responsibility. U.S. courts also handle cases with larger damage claims due to 'diversity of citizenship'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason tort damage awards are greater in the U.S. compared to Canada can be attributed to several factors:
- Different legal systems: The U.S. follows a more plaintiff-friendly legal system, where punitive damages and pain and suffering awards are more common and less capped.
- Jury system: Jury trials are more prevalent in the U.S., and juries tend to award larger sums than judges do in Canada.
- Legal culture: There is a greater emphasis on personal responsibility in the U.S., which can lead to larger damage awards for negligence.
Furthermore, U.S. court systems hear cases with 'diversity of citizenship' involving higher damage claims, impacting overall award trends.