What If You're Partially at Fault in a Car Accident? Understanding Comparative Negligence
Being involved in an auto accident is stressful enough. But when you may be partially at fault, it can become very complicated. That is where comparative negligence comes into play. According to an auto accident lawyer Orange County , it affects what you can recover in damages—regardless of whether you are partially at fault. What is Comparative Negligence Really? Comparative negligence is a fault-finding and compensation principle of law. It is basically a term that signifies that there can be more than one party at fault in an accident. Suppose you were 20% responsible for the accident and the other party was 80% responsible. You can still claim damages—only diminished by your 20%. There are Different Types of Comparative Negligence Not all states are equal. There are usually three systems: 1. Pure Comparative Negligence – You can recover damages even if you are 99% at fault. 2. Modified Comparative Negligence (50% rule) – You may recover only if you a...