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joint tortfeasors :: legal definition


Joint tortfeasors - n. two or more persons whose negligence in a single accident or event causes damages to another person. In many cases the joint tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable for the damages, meaning that any of them can be responsible to pay the entire amount, no matter how unequal the negligence of each party was. Example: Harry Hotrod is doing 90 miles an hour along a two-lane road in the early evening, Adele Aimster has stopped her car to study a map with her car sticking out into the lane by six inches. Hotrod swings out a couple of feet to miss Aimster's vehicle, never touches the brake, and hits Victor Victim, driving from the other direction, killing him. While Hotrod is grossly negligent for the high speed and failure to slow down, Aimster is also negligent for her car's slight intrusion into the lane. As a joint tortfeasor she may have to pay all the damages, particularly if Hotrod has no money or insurance. However, comparative negligence rules by statute or case law in most jurisdictions will apportion the liability by percentages of negligence among the tortfeasors (wrongdoers) and the injured parties.

See also: comparative negligence negligence and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

care :: n. in law, to be attentive, prudent and vigilant. ... she is involved. See also: careless
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
direct and proximate cause :: n. the immediate reason damage was caused by an ac ... so: cause complaint proximate cause
gross negligence :: n. carelessness which is in reckless disregard for ... damages negligence punitive damages
guest statute :: n. a state law which sets standards of care by the ... sked to be let out. See also: guest
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
injury :: n. any harm done to a person by the acts or omissi ... nction injunctive relief negligence
intervening cause :: n. an event which occurs between the original impr ... cause negligence superseding cause
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
joint enterprise :: n. a generic term for an activity of two or more p ... liability joint venture partnership
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
proximate cause :: n. a happening which results in an event, particul ... also: intervening cause negligence
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
rescue doctrine :: n. the rule of law that if a rescuer of a person h ... to the car grill. See also: damages
several liability :: n. referring to responsibility of one party for th ... n joint and several promissory note
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
strict liability :: n. automatic responsibility (without having to pro ... bility negligence res ipsa loquitur
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
suffering :: n. the pain, hurt, inconvenience, embarrassment an ... njury negligence pain and suffering
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
unilateral contract :: n. an agreement to pay in exchange for performance ... consideration contract performance
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability

Popular Law Searches

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forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
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sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - J

J :: n. abbreviation for Judge, as in the Hon. William ... as in the Hon. William B. Boone, J.
Jane Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible female ... lso: fictitious defendants John Doe
jaywalking :: n. walking across a street outside of marked cross ... jury to the jaywalker by a vehicle.
JD :: n. short for Juris Doctor, identifying the holder ... law degree. See also: Juris Doctor
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
jobber :: n. a merchant who buys products (usually in bulk o ... buys and acts for specific clients.
John Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible male d ... lso: fictitious defendants Jane Doe
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
joinder of issue :: n. that point in a lawsuit when the defendant has ... matters are to be decided by trial.
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
joint adventure :: n. when two or more people go together on a trip o ... e activity. See also: joint venture
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint enterprise :: n. a generic term for an activity of two or more p ... liability joint venture partnership
joint liability :: n. when two or more persons are both responsible f ... See also: joinder joint and several
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
joint tortfeasors :: n. two or more persons whose negligence in a singl ... : comparative negligence negligence
joint venture :: n. an enterprise entered into by two or more peopl ... s terminated. See also: partnership
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law