Comparative Negligence

Until the 1960′s, tort law in most states operated used a standard for liability known as contributory negligence. According to contributory negligence, an injured person could not receive compensation unless they were in no way responsible for the accident. This made it very difficult for victims of negligence to receive compensation, as in many cases, victims’ actions do play an unavoidable part in their injuries.

If you have been injured because of another party’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Austin personal injury attorney Vic Feazell, P.C. today to discuss your grounds for a claim. Call 877-948-4842 today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Comparative versus Contributory Negligence

Because contributive negligence created an unfair protection for negligent behavior, the standard in many states was changed to comparative negligence. Under this new method, negligent parties are legally bound to compensate their victims, but only to the extent that they were responsible for the accident.

For example, if a defendant is determined to be responsible for 75% of the accident, they must pay 75% of compensatory fees. Depending on the total cost of the victim’s losses, this could be a substantial amount of money.

In most cases, for an injured party to receive compensation, they cannot be more than 50% responsible for their own accident/injury.

Contact Us

If you believe you have been the victim of another party’s negligence, consult the Austin personal injury lawyer Vic Feazell, P.C. today about your case. Call 877-948-4842 today to schedule a free initial consultation.