Legal Definitions - consecutive tortfeasors

Definition: Consecutive tortfeasors are individuals or entities who commit separate acts of negligence that contribute to the same injury or harm.

Example: A driver runs a red light and hits a pedestrian, causing serious injuries. While the pedestrian is being transported to the hospital, the ambulance driver also drives recklessly and causes further harm to the pedestrian. In this scenario, both the driver and the ambulance driver are consecutive tortfeasors because they both contributed to the same injury.

Explanation: Consecutive tortfeasors are important in determining liability and damages in personal injury cases. In the example given, both the driver and the ambulance driver can be held responsible for the harm caused to the pedestrian. The concept of consecutive tortfeasors allows for multiple parties to be held accountable for their actions that led to the injury or harm.