In a state following the doctrine of Contributory Negligence, what happens if the plaintiff is found negligent?

In states that follow the doctrine of Contributory Negligence, if a plaintiff is found to have any degree of negligence contributing to the incident in question, they are barred from recovering any damages. This strict rule emphasizes the idea that if the plaintiff is even slightly at fault, they cannot pursue a settlement from the defendant.

This doctrine contrasts with comparative negligence systems, where a plaintiff can still recover damages even if they were partially at fault, though the amount recovered would be reduced in proportion to their degree of negligence. Therefore, in the context of contributory negligence, finding the plaintiff negligent means they will receive no settlement whatsoever, reflecting the strict liability imposed by this doctrine.

The correct answer directs attention to the fundamental principle of contributory negligence, which significantly impacts the outcomes of personal injury claims.