What characterizes a tort in legal terms?

A tort is characterized as a civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another individual, thereby infringing upon their rights. This legal concept covers a wide variety of wrongful acts, ranging from negligence to intentional wrongs, and is rooted in the idea of providing compensation to the injured party for the harm suffered.

In contrast to criminal law, which deals with offenses against the state, tort law is focused on the obligations individuals owe each other. The primary goal of torts is to restore the injured party, typically through monetary damages. The recognition of such wrongs allows individuals to seek legal remedy and holds the offending party accountable for their actions. This is why identifying a tort focuses on civil misdeeds rather than criminal acts, administrative errors, or procedural mistakes in law enforcement.