Contributory Negligence in Nevada
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Nevada uses pure comparative negligence; you recover your proportional share even if mostly at fault.
How Nevada treats Contributory Negligence
Nevada follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning you can recover damages even if you are 99% at fault, as long as the defendant bears some percentage of responsibility. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 80% at fault and the defendant is 20% at fault, you recover 20% of your total damages. This is one of the most plaintiff-friendly comparative negligence systems 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 Nevada.