What is contributory negligence?

Contributory negligence is a legal concept that comes up often in the context of accident law in Washington. Generally speaking, it occurs when someone who has been injured in an accident is partially responsible for the cause of the accident. This is a "no-fault" concept, meaning that blame is not established by either party. Importantly, contributory negligence applies both to the person who has been injured and to the person who caused the accident. In Washington, the rule of contributory negligence means that if a person is found to be even partially responsible for the accident, they cannot recover damages or compensation for the injuries they have suffered. Furthermore, if the person found responsible for causing the accident can prove that the injured party was in any way responsible for their own injuries, the injured party may be barred from recovering any damages that they have suffered. Thus, it is important to understand the concept of contributory negligence so that any injured parties in Washington can make an informed decision about how to proceed with their claim.

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