Article 127 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 127 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: مسؤولية الشخص عن فعله
If several persons are liable for a harmful act, they are jointly liable for compensation, the court sets each one's share, and if that is not possible, liability is divided equally.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تعدد المسؤولون عن فعل ضار كانوا متضامنين في التزامهم بتعويض الضرر، وتعين المحكمة نصيب كل منهم في التعويض وفق القواعد الواردة في هذا الفصل، وإذا تعذر ذلك كانت المسؤولية بينهم بالتساوي.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 127 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where the damage is caused by more than one person, and sets two matters: the relationship of those liable to the injured person, and their relationship among themselves.
First: toward the injured person — those liable are jointly liable in their obligation to compensate for the damage. Joint liability means that each of them is bound to the whole compensation toward the injured person, so the injured person does not bear the burden of dividing his claim among them.
Second: among those liable — the court sets each one's share of the compensation under the rules set out in the chapter to which the article belongs. If it is not possible to determine each one's share, liability among them is equal.
The article thus protects the injured person from the multiplicity of those liable, while at the same time achieving fairness among them by distributing the burden according to each one's share.
This article is linked to Article 128, which deals with the case where the injured person himself contributed by his fault to causing or increasing the damage, in which case his right to compensation, in whole or in part, lapses in proportion to his contribution. It is also linked to Article 126 on the negation of a public employee's liability in specified cases. The article does not detail the procedures by which someone who paid more than his share recovers from the others, so no detail on that can be inferred from it.
To determine each party's share in a case with more than one person liable, consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
Two drivers caused an accident on a road in Riyadh that damaged a third, parked car. The owner of the damaged car may claim compensation from both of them jointly, and the court then sets each driver's share; if that is not possible, liability is divided equally between them.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 127 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
If more than one person caused the damage, whom do I claim compensation from?
Those liable are jointly liable in their obligation to compensate for the damage, so each of them is bound to compensate the injured person.
How is compensation divided among those liable?
The court sets each one's share under the rules set out in the chapter, and if that is not possible, liability among them is equal.
When is liability divided equally?
When the court cannot determine each liable person's share of the compensation.
More articles on Compensation for Harm
- Article 28
The article provides that a person who uses his right lawfully is not liable for any harm that arises from that.
من استعمل حقه استعمالًا مشروعًا لا يكون مسؤولًا عما ينشأ عن ذلك من ضرر.
- Article 29
The article prohibits abuse in using a right, and sets its cases: aiming only to harm others, benefit entirely disproportionate to the harm caused, and use for something other than what the right was granted for or for an unlawful purpose.
1- لا يجوز التعسف في استعمال الحق. 2- يكون استعمال الحق تعسفيًّا في الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا لم يقصد بالاستعمال سوى الإضرار بالغير. ب- إذا كانت المنفعة من استعمال
- Article 35
The offeror may withdraw his offer before acceptance is made unless the offer has a fixed period, and if he does not inform the other party he compensates him for the harm suffered but not the expected profit.
1- للموجب أن يعدل عن الإيجاب قبل صدور القبول؛ ما لم تكن للإيجاب مدةٌ معينة. 2- إذا لم تكن للإيجاب مدة معينة؛ فعلى الموجب إذا عدل إعلام من وجه إليه الإيجاب بذلك،
- Article 41
Negotiating does not oblige the parties to conclude a contract, but a person who negotiates or ends negotiations in bad faith is liable for the harm, not for expected profit; bad faith includes lack of seriousness and concealing an essential fact.
1- ذا تمَّ التفاوض على عقد فلا يرتب ذلك على أطراف التفاوض التزامًا بإبرام هذا العقد، ومع ذلك يكون من يتفاوض أو يُنهي التفاوض بسوء نية مسؤولًا عن الضرر الذي أصاب
- Article 56
If a partially incapacitated person resorts to fraudulent means to conceal his incapacity, he must compensate the other contracting party for the harm caused by the annulment of the contract.
إذا لجأ ناقص الأهلية إلى طرقٍ احتياليَّةٍ لإخفاء نقص أهليته لزمه التعويض عن الضرر الذي أصاب المتعاقد معه بسبب إبطال العقد.
- Article 118
The article provides that the provisions on harmful acts apply to liability arising from the act of a natural or legal person, subject to liability provisions in special statutory texts.
مع مراعاة أحكام المسؤولية الواردة في نصوص نظامية خاصة؛ تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على المسؤولية الناشئة عن الفعل الضار من الشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.