Legal Definitions - apportionment of liability

Definition:Apportionment of liability is the process of dividing responsibility for an injury or harm among multiple parties, including the plaintiff. This legal concept includes doctrines such as joint and several liability, comparative responsibility, indemnity, and settlements.

Example: If a car accident occurs involving multiple drivers, each driver may be held responsible for a portion of the damages. For instance, if Driver A is found to be 60% at fault and Driver B is found to be 40% at fault, the damages may be apportioned accordingly. This means that Driver A would be responsible for paying 60% of the damages, while Driver B would be responsible for paying the remaining 40%.

Explanation: This example illustrates how apportionment of liability works in a car accident scenario. Instead of holding one driver solely responsible for the damages, the court may divide the responsibility based on each driver's level of fault. This ensures that each party is held accountable for their actions and pays a fair share of the damages.