The Role Of Contributory Negligence In Your Personal Injury Case
Last updated on August 24, 2023
When an accident happens and you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should be able to seek compensation from that individual for the harm he or she caused. Under Ohio law, however, there is a caveat to how fault is determined in personal injury cases.
Make sure you have an experienced lawyer on your side to combat assertions of contributory negligence and help you recover maximum compensation.
At Colley Shroyer Abraham, we help people who have suffered injuries because of another party’s negligence. This includes victims of car accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe premises, product defects and more.
What Is Contributory Negligence And How Can It Affect My Case?
Contributory negligence is a term used to describe how much your own negligence or wrongdoing contributed to the accident. This concept can dramatically influence how much compensation you receive, sometimes eliminating your ability to receive compensation at all.
For example, imagine you were in a car accident and a jury has determined you could recover $100,000 in compensation for what you have suffered. A detailed analysis of the accident, however, has revealed that you were 20% at fault in causing that accident. This “contributory negligence” on your part can be used to reduce that $100,000 compensation package by 20%. Furthermore, if you were found to be 51% at fault (or more at fault than the opposing side), then that compensation would be reduced to nothing.
Personal injury and insurance defense attorneys throughout Ohio often use contributory negligence as a way to limit the amount of money paid out for claims. Our record of success as trial lawyers has helped us recover compensation for clients throughout Columbus, Ohio, and surrounding areas.
We are dedicated to making sure injury victims get the help they need to recover physically and financially after an accident. Contact our office online or by telephone at 614-678-5072 to set up a consultation and learn more about your compensation options.