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A tortfeasor is the person or company legally responsible for causing harm to someone else through wrongful actions. You’ll likely see this term in legal documents related to your personal injury case.
The word comes from “tort” (a French-derived legal term meaning a wrongful act or injury) and “feasor” (an old legal term meaning “doer” or “maker”). Put together, “tortfeasor” literally means “wrongdoer.”
Understanding who qualifies as a tortfeasor and how liability works in Washington, DC, is essential for protecting your right to fair compensation after an accident or injury. When you are involved in an accident in DC, don’t wait. Contact the DC personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation.
There are three types of tortfeasors recognized by DC law: individuals, corporations, and multiple entities.
An individual tortfeasor is a single person who causes harm through their actions or negligence. Common examples include:
These individuals face potential liability for all resulting damages, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Companies, nonprofits, and government entities can also be considered tortfeasors. Some examples include:
Corporate tortfeasors typically carry substantially larger insurance policies than individuals, often making them more capable of providing full compensation for serious injuries.
Many cases involve multiple responsible parties. Washington, DC’s liability laws allow accident victims to pursue compensation to any party that is at fault for the accident. This flexibility is essential when several parties share responsibility for your injuries. A common example is a truck accident, where the truck driver, trucking company, and the shipping company may all share responsibility for the crash.
A thorough investigation often finds those responsible for your accident who weren’t obvious right away. Professional investigators use witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert accident reconstruction to figure out what happened and identify all parties who are at fault for your injuries.
This thorough approach is essential to your case because if you don’t find all the people who are responsible early on, it may be harder to get money from them later. Some tortfeasors may only become apparent through an investigation of employment relationships, corporate structures, maintenance records, or contractual obligations between parties.
When the government is involved in torts, things get even more complicated because of the Federal Tort Claims Act. If you miss the deadlines or don’t follow the right steps to file these claims, you may lose your right to compensation, even if the government is clearly at fault.
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer in Washington, DC, will ensure that all at-fault parties are identified and the best recovery strategies are used for your case. Contact Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys will identify all responsible tortfeasors and fight to maximize your compensation from every available source.
Many types of personal injury cases are prime examples of tortfeasor actions. These include:
A collision on K Street involving a delivery van may implicate multiple tortfeasors:
Each party’s insurance coverage adds to the total compensation available.
A slip-and-fall accident on an icy sidewalk outside a Georgetown restaurant could involve the restaurant owner, the property management company, and the city contractor responsible for snow removal. Each entity may share liability for failing to maintain safe conditions.
Construction accidents frequently involve numerous parties, including general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners—each potentially responsible for different aspects of the conditions that caused injury.
Understanding tortfeasors and liability principles can help you obtain the fair compensation you deserve after an accident in Washington, DC. Strict rules regarding contributory negligence and special issues with government immunity make it essential to get professional legal advice. Time is of the essence; evidence disappears, and legal deadlines come up quickly.
When someone else’s carelessness has harmed you in Washington, DC, be sure to get in touch with Regan Zambri Long immediately. We will identify all individuals responsible for the torts, assess the available insurance coverage, and strive to obtain the maximum compensation possible from all sources. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.