Contributory Negligence in Rhode Island
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Rhode Island uses pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery regardless of your percentage of fault.
How Rhode Island treats Contributory Negligence
Rhode Island permits plaintiffs to recover damages even if they are primarily responsible for their injury, as long as the defendant bears some degree of fault. Your recovery is reduced proportionally by your negligence percentage—if you are 90% at fault, you recover 10% of damages. This pure comparative negligence rule applies broadly across personal injury cases in Rhode Island courts.
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 Rhode Island.