What is contributory negligence?

Contributory negligence refers to a legal concept where a person can be held partially responsible for their own injuries because their own negligent actions contributed to the incident. In jurisdictions that recognize contributory negligence, if the plaintiff is found to have any share of fault in the events leading to their injuries, they may be barred from recovering any damages from the other party involved. This concept emphasizes the idea of shared responsibility in accident scenarios and is crucial in personal injury law. Understanding contributory negligence is important for evaluating liability and compensation in legal cases, as it directly influences the outcomes of lawsuits.