{"id":617,"date":"2025-11-07T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstchoicelaw.com\/new\/?page_id=617"},"modified":"2026-01-28T12:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T12:50:12","slug":"what-is-comparative-negligence-and-how-can-it-affect-your-case","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.firstchoicelaw.com\/new\/personal-injury-blog\/what-is-comparative-negligence-and-how-can-it-affect-your-case\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Comparative Negligence and How Can It Affect Your Case?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"617\" class=\"elementor elementor-617\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65a5158 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"65a5158\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ac87fd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2ac87fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8ec084 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f8ec084\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.firstchoicelaw.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/8ff90f540c2af0a0ba3d9cd2cbf1f337e8dc1e54-rf6f1fdp6i854tb0jgulwq1my1wmt5767zhvcixi5s.png\" title=\"8ff90f540c2af0a0ba3d9cd2cbf1f337e8dc1e54\" alt=\"8ff90f540c2af0a0ba3d9cd2cbf1f337e8dc1e54\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89f1acb elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-absolute e-transform elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89f1acb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;,&quot;_transform_translateX_effect&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:-50,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;_transform_translateX_effect_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;_transform_translateX_effect_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;_transform_translateY_effect&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:-50,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;_transform_translateY_effect_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;_transform_translateY_effect_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is Comparative Negligence and How Can It Affect Your Case?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa6f87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"aa6f87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60fea72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"60fea72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Comparative Negligence under Florida Law<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-065ca79 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"065ca79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">   <\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dfb9eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3dfb9eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Florida, if you suffer an injury in an\u00a0<strong>accident caused by a third party<\/strong>, you are entitled to compensation. The amount of this compensation can vary due to several factors, such as the circumstances surrounding the accident, the severity of the injuries you suffered, and who was at fault.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>However, it is not always easy to determine who was responsible for the accident. In these cases, Florida courts apply a rule known as\u00a0<strong>Comparative Negligence.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-529b64d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"529b64d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is Comparative Negligence?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7be93c2 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7be93c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> <\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b70acd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b70acd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When it is difficult to determine who is at fault (for example, if both parties made mistakes that led to the accident), the court may decide to &#8220;apportion fault&#8221; between the parties. This apportionment has a direct impact on damages. There are different ways to calculate and\u00a0<strong>apply comparative negligence<\/strong>\u00a0to a case.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c208ac1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c208ac1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Types of Comparative Negligence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77b4500 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"77b4500\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> <\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d807ead elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d807ead\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Currently, U.S. tort law contemplates three distinct types of comparative negligence.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Contributory Negligence:<\/strong>\u00a0This model does not allow the plaintiff to receive compensation for damages if the court determines that they were to some degree responsible for the accident. Even 1% liability could preclude the plaintiff from receiving compensation.<\/li><li><strong>Pure Comparative Negligence:<\/strong>\u00a0In\u00a0this model, the plaintiff still receives compensation for damages, however, the amount will be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff. If the court determined that you were 20% at fault, you will only receive 80% of the compensation.<\/li><li><strong>Modified Comparative Negligence:<\/strong>\u00a0This model functions as an intermediate point between the other two. The plaintiff can still receive compensation, but only up to the limits of what is considered reasonable. In many states, a 50% rule applies \u2013 if the plaintiff is deemed to be over 50% at fault, they will not receive any compensation.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad8673e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ad8673e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How is Fault Determined After an Accident?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-578a15c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"578a15c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> <\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3352cf9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3352cf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Florida is a pure comparative negligence state<\/strong>, which can either help or hinder your case, depending on the circumstances. To determine liability during an accident, lawyers and insurers analyze 4 elements in each case.<\/p><ul><li>Duty of Care: Who had the legal responsibility for safety?<\/li><li>Breach of Duty: Did the responsible party breach their duty?<\/li><li>Causation: Did the breach cause the accident?<\/li><li>Damages: What are the losses and expenses?<\/li><\/ul><p>Insurers will try to prove that you were at least partially at fault for the accident to reduce your compensation, so the help of an experienced attorney is essential.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6554600 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6554600\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Did you have an accident? Contact a lawyer as soon as possible!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bd0b6f elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2bd0b6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> <\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbca712 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dbca712\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is not always easy to determine who was at fault in an accident, and it is the insurers&#8217; job to prevent you from receiving the compensation you deserve. Our team of\u00a0<strong>accident lawyers<\/strong>\u00a0has a lot of experience with these types of cases and can help you fight for a fair amount. Please Call\u00a0Jason Recksiedler, certified as an expert in civil trial law by the Florida Bar, or\u00a0Caroline Fischer Espi. today for a free consultation. We are available at\u00a0321-999-1111\u00a024 hours a day. 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