What is comparative negligence and how does it affect a motorcycle accident claim?

Comparative negligence is a legal concept that states that if both the plaintiff and defendant are found to be at fault for an accident, the amount of financial compensation awarded to the plaintiff is lowered according to the percentage of fault attributed to them. In Washington, comparative negligence works in a pure form, meaning that any percentage of fault attributed to the plaintiff will result in a decreased settlement. For example, if the plaintiff were found to be 25% at fault for a motorcycle accident that resulted in minor injuries, they would only be able to recover 75% of the settlement amount that they would have been entitled to. In more extreme cases, if a plaintiff were found to be 50% or more at fault for a motorcycle accident, they would be unable to receive any compensation from the defendant at all. Essentially, comparative negligence can have a significant effect on motorcycle accident claims in Washington as it restricts the amount of financial compensation a plaintiff can receive. Both parties involved in the accident must be held accountable for their respective actions in order for the court to determine the amount of compensation to be paid. As such, it is important that a claimant has an experienced attorney representing their case who can make sure that their rights are protected and that they are not made to bear an unfair portion of the responsibility for the accident.

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What is comparative negligence and how does it affect a motorcycle accident claim?

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