COMPARATIVE-NEGLIGENCE DOCTRINE

comparative-negligence doctrine. Torts. The principle that reduces a plaintiff’s recovery proportionally to the plaintiff’s degree of fault in causing the damage, rather than barring recovery completely. • Most states have statutorily adopted the comparative-negligence doctrine. See NEGLIGENCE. Cf. CONTRIBUTO-RY-NEGLIGENCE DOCTRINE. [Cases: Negligence 549. C.J.S. Negligence §§ 262–264.]