What is contributory negligence?

Contributory negligence is a legal term used in Minnesota accident law. It states that if a person was even in part at fault for their own injury, they can no longer be able to sue for damages in court. In other words, even if someone else is mostly at fault for an accident, if the injured person was partially responsible they will not be able to win a court case against the other party. The amount of the injured persons fault decides how much the other party is responsible for paying. For example, if the injured party is found to be 20% at fault, then they can only receive 80% of the damages they would otherwise be entitled to. This principle applies regardless of the severity of the injury; even if someone is severely hurt or killed, if they are found to have contributed to the incident, they cannot be compensated.

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What is contributory negligence?

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