Contributory and Comparative Negligence: Defenses in Car Accident Cases

When you're involved in a car accident, understanding the legal defenses that can influence a personal injury case is crucial. The doctrines of contributory and comparative negligence play big roles. These rules determine the compensation an accident victim might receive.

This article dives into these defenses. We will explain their implications in auto accidents. We'll also explore how they can affect your personal injury claim.

Contributory Negligence

Let's begin with the contributory negligence system. Under the pure contributory negligence rule, an injured party cannot collect damages if they were in any way at fault for their own injuries.

If you were even 1% at fault in the auto accident, you could be barred from recovering compensation. Only a few jurisdictions, including Maryland, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, still adhere to the pure contributory negligence rule.

Example of Contributory Negligence

Jane is driving through Maryland. Another driver, Tom, runs a stop sign and collides with her car. At the time of the collision, Jane was texting and not paying full attention to the road. Tom was at fault for running the stop sign, but Jane's texting could be seen as a contributing factor to the accident.

In a state with pure contributory negligence rules, like Maryland, even if Jane is found to be only 1% at fault for texting while Tom is 99% at fault for running the stop sign, Jane may be barred from receiving any compensation for her injuries and damages.

Comparative Negligence

In contrast, most states have adopted some types of comparative negligence laws. Under the comparative negligence rule, an injured person's ability to collect damages is diminished in proportion to their degree of fault.

There are different types of comparative negligence:

• Pure Comparative Negligence: In pure comparative negligence states like New York and Florida, an injured party can collect damages regardless of their percentage of fault. Their damages award is reduced according to that percentage.
• Modified Comparative Negligence: States like Colorado use a modified comparative negligence system. Here, an injured person can only collect damages if their degree of fault is below a certain threshold. The threshold is typically 50%. Beyond that threshold, they cannot recover compensation.

The difference between pure comparative negligence and modified comparative negligence can be illustrated by another example.

Consider a car accident case where an injured party is found to be 60% at fault for not adhering to the speed limit. In a pure comparative negligence state, they would receive 40% of the damages. However, in a modified comparative negligence state, they might not receive anything if the state's threshold is 50%.

Importance of State Law and Specific Jurisdictions

Personal injury claims can be challenging to understand. They require a clear understanding of the state-specific rules and laws surrounding comparative and contributory negligence.

Every state in the U.S. has its own unique legal framework that dictates how negligence is determined. It also determines to what extent victims can claim damages.

For example, let's take a closer look at three states: Colorado, New York, and North Carolina.

Colorado

Colorado adopts the modified comparative negligence system. This means that an injured party can collect damages as long as their fault is deemed less than 50%. If they are found to be more than 50% at fault, they lose the right to any compensation.

New York

In contrast, New York adheres to the pure comparative negligence rule. Under this system, an injured party can still recover damages, even if they are 99% at fault. The compensation will be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault.

North Carolina

Moving south, North Carolina stands out by upholding the contributory negligence system. If a party is slightly at fault for the accident, even as little as 1%, they cannot recover any damages.

The Real-World Implications

To underscore the importance of these distinctions, let's discuss an example.

Imagine you're involved in a car accident while on a cross-country road trip. In Colorado, you were distracted by adjusting the radio and got hit by another car. The court determined you were 40% at fault. Under Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover 60% of the total damages from the other driver.

Now, imagine the same accident happening in North Carolina. You would be barred from recovering anything. This is due to your 40% fault under their contributory negligence rule.

Insurance companies are fully aware of these state-specific rules. When dealing with insurance claims, they often reference the negligence laws of the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred. As a claimant, understanding which rules apply in the state of the accident can influence the negotiation with the insurance company. It also impacts your eventual settlement.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

Hiring a personal injury attorney when pursuing compensation is wise. They can offer legal advice, guide you through the complexities of personal injury law, and advocate on your behalf, whether the issue is a truck accident, wrongful death, or a motor vehicle accident.

The intricacies of tort law, the distinctions between pure contributory negligence and the various types of comparative negligence, and state-specific statutes can be overwhelming.

An insurance company may try to argue the degree of fault to decrease the amount of damages they have to pay. Thus, speaking to a car accident attorney for case evaluation becomes invaluable. These attorneys can make sure that the insurance company does not take advantage of you as the injured party.