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ARTICLE · 12 JUNE 2024

Understanding Contributory Negligence In Accidents

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Imagine riding your bike and not stopping at a stop sign. If a car hits you, you might both be at fault. That's what contributory negligence is about — when more than one person...

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Alfonso Campos Reales
Alfonso Campos Reales
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Imagine riding your bike and not stopping at a stop sign. If a car hits you, you might both be at fault. That's what contributory negligence is about — when more than one person did something wrong that led to an accident.

A LITTLE HISTORY

A long time ago, people decided that if someone was hurt but also did something careless, they might not get as much help or money for their injuries. This idea has been around for a long time and is still used today.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

To determine if someone was also careless, we ask, “Would this have happened if they had been more careful?”

We also consider whether it could have been anticipated. It's important to know about contributory negligence because it can change how much help someone gets if they're hurt.

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