Legal Definitions - comparative-negligence doctrine

The comparative-negligence doctrine is a legal principle that reduces the amount of compensation a plaintiff can receive in a lawsuit based on their degree of fault in causing the damage. This means that if the plaintiff is partially responsible for the harm they suffered, their recovery will be reduced proportionally to their level of fault, rather than being completely barred from receiving any compensation.

For example, if a person is injured in a car accident and it is determined that they were 30% at fault for the accident because they were not wearing a seatbelt, their compensation would be reduced by 30%. So if they were awarded $10,000 in damages, they would only receive $7,000.

Most states have adopted the comparative-negligence doctrine as a way to ensure that plaintiffs are not completely barred from receiving compensation for their injuries, even if they were partially at fault. This doctrine allows for a fairer distribution of responsibility between the parties involved in a lawsuit.