A tort is a wrongful act (other than a breach of a contract) that creates civil legal liability for money damages—and in some situations entitles the injured party to injunctive relief—an injunction or court order for the person or entity committing the wrongful act to stop a certain behavior or action. A person who commits a tort is known as a tortfeasor.

Torts are often associated with personal injury claims, as many torts can cause personal injuries. These claims and the related law are sometimes broadly referred to as tort law.

In North Carolina, as in other states, a tort is considered a civil wrong that can result in the tortfeasor (the person who commits the tort) being held liable for damages. Tort law in North Carolina covers a wide range of wrongful acts, including but not limited to negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and trespass. Personal injury claims are a common type of tort where the injured party seeks compensation for injuries sustained due to someone else's actions or negligence. North Carolina follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, which means that if the injured party is found to be even slightly at fault for their own injury, they may be barred from recovering damages. Additionally, there are statutes of limitations that set the time frame within which a tort claim must be filed. For most personal injury claims in North Carolina, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury. In some cases, injunctive relief may also be sought to prevent the tortfeasor from continuing harmful actions.