Legal Definitions - mitigation-of-damages doctrine

The mitigation-of-damages doctrine is a principle that requires a person who has suffered an injury or breach of contract to take reasonable steps to reduce the harm caused by the injury or breach. This means that the person must make an effort to alleviate the effects of the injury or breach.

For example, if a person is injured in a car accident and requires medical treatment, they have a duty to seek medical attention and follow the doctor's orders to recover as quickly as possible. If they fail to do so and their condition worsens, they may not be able to recover the full amount of damages from the person who caused the accident.

Another example is in the case of a breach of contract. If a person fails to deliver goods as promised, the other party has a duty to mitigate their damages by finding a replacement supplier or taking other reasonable steps to minimize their losses. If they fail to do so and their losses increase, they may not be able to recover the full amount of damages from the breaching party.

The purpose of the mitigation-of-damages doctrine is to prevent a person from recovering damages that could have been avoided with reasonable effort. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own recovery and minimize the harm caused by an injury or breach of contract.