What principle does comparative negligence operate under?

Comparative negligence operates under the principle that liability is shared based on each party's degree of fault in causing an injury. This legal doctrine allows for a more equitable distribution of responsibility in personal injury cases. Instead of one party bearing full responsibility for damages, comparative negligence examines the actions and negligence of all parties involved.

For instance, if a plaintiff is found to be partially responsible for their own injuries, the amount of damages they can recover may be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines that the plaintiff was 30% at fault for an accident and the total damages are assessed at $100,000, the plaintiff would only be entitled to recover $70,000. This approach recognizes that multiple parties can contribute to an incident and aims to allocate liability fairly.