What are concurrent tortfeasors?

Concurrent tortfeasors refer to parties who unknowingly act together, leading to a shared liability for the harm caused. This typically occurs when two or more parties engage in separate actions that contribute to the same injury or damage experienced by a victim. For instance, if two drivers, while unaware of each other’s actions, collide with a pedestrian at different times, both may be considered concurrent tortfeasors because their independent, yet simultaneous actions resulted in the same harm.

This concept underscores the principle that liability can be jointly held even when the wrongdoers do not have a direct collaboration or agreement; rather, their separate actions align in a way that collectively causes the injury. Understanding this terminology is crucial for legal and insurance contexts, where determining fault and managing claims can be intricate when multiple parties are involved.