What does tortfeasor mean in personal injury?

A person or entity that has committed a civil wrong (a tort) and is therefore potentially liable in damages. In personal-injury practice, the tortfeasor is the at-fault party — the driver, the property owner, the employer, the manufacturer — whose conduct gives rise to the claim.

Where does tortfeasor apply?

Tortfeasor is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

Tortfeasor — Personal Injury Glossary

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Common questions.

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What does tortfeasor mean in personal injury?
A person or entity that has committed a civil wrong (a tort) and is therefore potentially liable in damages. In personal-injury practice, the tortfeasor is the at-fault party — the driver, the property owner, the employer, the manufacturer — whose conduct gives rise to the claim.
Where does tortfeasor apply?
Tortfeasor is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

★ editorial note

This entry describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. Nothing on this page is legal advice. For your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction. See /methodology for how we derive figures elsewhere on the site, /sources for the standing authority list, and /disclaimer for the scope statement.

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Tortfeasor

What it means in practice.