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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee covers a wide range of wrongful acts, including but not limited to negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and product liability. Personal injury claims are a common type of tort claim in Tennessee, where individuals seek compensation for injuries caused by another party's actions or omissions. The state's tort law allows for the recovery of various types of damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in cases of egregious conduct. Tennessee also has specific statutes that may affect tort claims, such as comparative fault rules that reduce a plaintiff's recovery proportionally to their degree of fault, and damage caps that limit the amount of certain types of damages a plaintiff can recover. Additionally, Tennessee has a statute of limitations that sets a deadline for filing a tort claim, which is generally one year from the date of the injury for personal injury claims.