Contributory Negligence in Colorado
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Colorado uses pure comparative negligence; you recover even if 99% at fault, minus your percentage.
How Colorado treats Contributory Negligence
Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-111 allows plaintiffs to recover damages reduced by their own negligence percentage, with no bar to recovery regardless of fault level. A plaintiff who is 80% responsible still recovers 20% of damages from the defendant. This pure comparative system applies in most civil cases and differs from states that bar recovery entirely if the plaintiff exceeds a certain threshold.
The general definition of Contributory Negligence
A plaintiff's own carelessness that partially caused their injury, reducing their recovery.
When someone gets hurt, the court looks at whether the injured person also acted carelessly and contributed to their own harm. If they did, their financial award gets reduced by the percentage they're responsible for. For example, if you're hit by a car while jaywalking, you might be found 20% at fault, so your damages would be cut by that amount. This rule exists because the law thinks people should take reasonable care for their own safety too.
Read the full Contributory Negligence entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.