Contributory Negligence in Connecticut
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Connecticut uses pure comparative negligence; your recovery reduces by your exact fault percentage.
How Connecticut treats Contributory Negligence
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h establishes pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even when the plaintiff bears primary responsibility. If you are 70% at fault, you recover 30% of your damages. Connecticut courts apply this rule broadly across negligence cases, and there is no threshold that completely bars recovery based on plaintiff fault alone.
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 Connecticut.