Contributory Negligence in Iowa
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Iowa uses pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery at any fault level, reduced by your percentage.
How Iowa treats Contributory Negligence
Iowa follows pure comparative negligence under Iowa Code § 668.3, permitting recovery even if you are primarily responsible for the injury. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of negligence, with no threshold that bars recovery entirely. This rule applies regardless of how much fault you bear.
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 Iowa.