Contributory Negligence in Wyoming
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Wyoming allows recovery under comparative negligence if the plaintiff's negligence is not greater than the defendant's negligence.
How Wyoming treats Contributory Negligence
Wyoming follows a 'not greater than' comparative negligence standard, permitting recovery when the plaintiff's fault does not exceed the defendant's fault. The plaintiff's damages are reduced by their percentage of comparative negligence. This rule applies to most civil cases, including personal injury claims. A plaintiff who is 50% or less at fault can recover the remaining percentage of their damages.
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 Wyoming.