Contributory Negligence in Mississippi
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Mississippi uses pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even if you bear most of the fault.
How Mississippi treats Contributory Negligence
Mississippi permits plaintiffs to recover damages proportional to the defendant's degree of fault, regardless of how negligent the plaintiff is. A plaintiff who is 80% responsible for their injury can still recover 20% of damages from a defendant who is 20% at fault. Mississippi's pure comparative negligence rule applies broadly across personal injury cases and represents a plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction.
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 Mississippi.