What Is Contributory Negligence And How Could It Affect Your Claim?

In any successful personal injury claim, a claimant has to establish that another party was at fault for the injuries sustained.

However, if you have been involved in an accident and suffered serious injuries, but you think you may have also been partly at fault, this does not prohibit you from bringing a claim.

In these circumstances, you should obtain legal advice from specialist solicitors. If you can prove that the defendant was primarily at fault for the accident, you are not automatically barred from receiving compensation. Your claim may still be successful but your compensation will be reduced to reflect the contribution of your blameworthiness for the accident. This principle is called "contributory negligence."