What does "right of contribution" allow a liable defendant to do?

The "right of contribution" allows a defendant who has been found liable for damages to seek reimbursement from other defendants based on their proportional share of fault in causing the harm. This principle is rooted in the idea of fairness and ensuring that no single party bears the full burden of damages when multiple parties are at fault. For example, if two defendants caused the harm and one is held responsible for all damages, that defendant can pursue contribution from the other based on their respective degrees of fault.

This legal concept promotes equity in liability among co-defendants and encourages accountability by ensuring that all parties responsible for the injury contribute their fair share towards the compensation owed to the plaintiff. Contribution thus serves as a mechanism to distribute financial responsibility in a way that reflects each party's culpability in the situation at hand.