What is joint and several liability?

Joint and several liability is a legal principle that applies in some states, including Washington. It means that each of two or more defendants can be held completely responsible for the full amount of damages caused by their combined negligence. In other words, if two or more people are found to be partially or fully responsible for an injury or property damage, each of them can be held fully liable for the entire amount of harm. For example, if two people are found to have caused an accident that caused $50,000 in damage, each of them could be held liable for the entire amount of damages. Joint and several liability applies to all sorts of cases, including car accidents, premises liability, products liability, and medical malpractice. It is designed to protect plaintiffs from being unable to collect compensation due to the inability of multiple defendants to equally share the cost, especially if one or more defendants are insolvent. In Washington, an injured person can seek compensation from all defendants but the court can determine which defendant should pay the full amount, based on how much responsibility each defendant had. If the court decides two defendants should split the costs, they both may be held jointly and severally liable. The court will then divide the amount each defendant pays. Joint and several liability helps ensure that injured parties are economically secure and that they are compensated for the full value of their losses. It is an important part of Washington accident law, and a good reminder that it is always better to take safety precautions and prevent accidents from taking place in the first place.

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What is joint and several liability?

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