Contributory Negligence in Minnesota
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Minnesota uses pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery regardless of your percentage of fault.
How Minnesota treats Contributory Negligence
Minnesota permits plaintiffs to recover damages reduced by their own percentage of negligence, even if they are primarily responsible for their injury. Under Minnesota law, comparative negligence applies to most civil cases, and a plaintiff who is 95% at fault can still recover 5% of their damages from a more-negligent defendant. This approach favors injured parties and is among the most permissive in the country.
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 Minnesota.