What are joint tortfeasors?

Joint tortfeasors refer to two or more individuals who commit a tort, or wrongful act, that results in harm to another party. In legal terms, this means that these individuals share liability for the damages caused by their actions. Joint tortfeasor situations often arise in cases where multiple parties contribute to the cause of an injury or damage, allowing the injured party to seek recovery from any or all of them jointly.

This concept is foundational in tort law as it addresses the distribution of responsibility and ensures that a plaintiff can obtain compensation from those who are accountable for their losses. It facilitates the legal process by recognizing that more than one party can be involved in a tortious act, thus creating a framework for collective accountability.

The other options do not fully capture the legal definition. For instance, individuals who have been wronged together do not necessarily imply that they share responsibility for causing the harm. Similarly, parties that split legal costs do not reflect the idea of joint liability for a wrongful act. Lastly, anyone involved in a shared lawsuit could be considered a party to the case without implying that they engaged in a wrongful act together. Therefore, the most accurate understanding of joint tortfeasors is that they are individuals who have committed a tort together.