{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Dataset","name":"SetCalc Comparative Negligence Rules by State (Public Feed)","description":"Open-data feed of comparative negligence rules for each US jurisdiction. Rule taxonomy: pure, modified-50, modified-51, contributory, slight-gross. Each row cites the controlling state code or judicial opinion. Covers all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.","url":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SetCalc","url":"https://setcalc.com"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SetCalc","url":"https://setcalc.com"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"inLanguage":"en-US","encodingFormat":"application/json","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://setcalc.com/api/legal-rules/comparative-negligence.json"},{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"text/html","contentUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state"}],"keywords":["comparative negligence","comparative fault","modified comparative negligence","pure comparative negligence","contributory negligence","51 percent rule","50 percent bar","open data"],"spatialCoverage":{"@type":"Place","name":"United States","geo":{"@type":"GeoShape","addressCountry":"US"}},"temporalCoverage":"2026/..","variableMeasured":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"State","description":"US state or territory."},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"Rule type","description":"pure, modified-50, modified-51, contributory, or slight-gross."},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"Recovery cutoff (percent)","description":"Highest claimant fault percentage that still permits recovery; null for pure or slight-gross jurisdictions.","unitText":"percent"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"Statute citation","description":"Official state code or case-law citation for the controlling rule."}],"recordCount":51,"generatedAt":"2026-05-23T21:14:33.521Z","attribution":"SetCalc Comparative Negligence Rules by State, https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state. CC BY 4.0.","citationFormat":"SetCalc. Comparative Negligence Rules by State. setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state. CC BY 4.0.","data":[{"state":"Alabama","slug":"alabama","ruleType":"contributory","ruleTypeLabel":"Contributory (pure bar)","ruleTypeDescription":"Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Williams v. Delta Int'l Mach. Corp., 619 So. 2d 1330 (Ala. 1993)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/supreme-court/1993/1901255-1.html","caseLawCitation":"Williams v. Delta Int'l Mach. Corp., 619 So. 2d 1330 (Ala. 1993)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Alabama retains pure contributory negligence by common law; the Supreme Court of Alabama declined to adopt comparative negligence in Williams, leaving any contributory fault as a complete bar to recovery.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/alabama"},{"state":"Alaska","slug":"alaska","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Alaska Stat. § 09.17.060","statuteUrl":"https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#09.17.060","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Alaska applies pure comparative negligence: damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault with no percentage bar. See also AS 09.17.080 for apportionment among multiple tortfeasors.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/alaska"},{"state":"Arizona","slug":"arizona","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-2505","statuteUrl":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/02505.htm","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative negligence; full damages reduced in proportion to the claimant’s fault. Exception: no comparative-negligence recovery for a claimant who intentionally, wilfully, or wantonly caused or contributed to the injury.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/arizona"},{"state":"Arkansas","slug":"arkansas","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-64/section-16-64-122/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 50% bar; the claimant recovers only if fault is less than 50% of the total. At exactly 50% the claimant is barred.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/arkansas"},{"state":"California","slug":"california","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/13/804.html","caseLawCitation":"Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804, 532 P.2d 1226 (1975)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"California follows pure comparative negligence, adopted judicially in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). A claimant can recover damages even if more than 99 percent at fault; damages are reduced in direct proportion to the claimant’s share of fault. The rule is judge-made, not statutory, so the controlling authority is the case itself rather than a code section.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/california"},{"state":"Colorado","slug":"colorado","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-111","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-13/damages-and-limitations-on-actions/article-21/part-1/section-13-21-111/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is barred when fault is \"as great as\" the defendant’s. Recovery is allowed only when the plaintiff is 49% or less at fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/colorado"},{"state":"Connecticut","slug":"connecticut","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-52/chapter-925/section-52-572h/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the combined fault of defendants. A 50/50 split still allows half recovery.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/connecticut"},{"state":"Delaware","slug":"delaware","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"10 Del. Code § 8132","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-10/chapter-81/section-8132/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is allowed when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the defendant’s or combined defendants’.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/delaware"},{"state":"District of Columbia","slug":"district-of-columbia","ruleType":"contributory","ruleTypeLabel":"Contributory (pure bar)","ruleTypeDescription":"Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Wingfield v. Peoples Drug Store, Inc., 379 A.2d 685 (D.C. 1977)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1977/11243-3.html","caseLawCitation":"Wingfield v. Peoples Drug Store, Inc., 379 A.2d 685 (D.C. 1977)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"D.C. retains pure contributory negligence by common law; any contributory negligence bars recovery. A limited statutory exception applies to bicycle and pedestrian claims under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, but the general rule is contributory.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/district-of-columbia"},{"state":"Florida","slug":"florida","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Fla. Stat. § 768.81","statuteUrl":"http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.81.html","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Florida switched from pure comparative negligence to a modified 51% bar in 2023 under House Bill 837. For causes of action accruing on or after March 24, 2023, a claimant whose share of fault exceeds 50% cannot recover damages. The change does not apply to medical-negligence actions, which remain under pure comparative principles.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/florida"},{"state":"Georgia","slug":"georgia","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Ga. Code Ann. § 51-12-33","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-51/chapter-12/article-2/section-51-12-33/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff recovers only when fault is less than 50% of the combined fault. Apportionment among parties and nonparties is statutorily required.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/georgia"},{"state":"Hawaii","slug":"hawaii","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-31","statuteUrl":"https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0663/HRS_0663-0031.htm","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the defendant’s aggregate fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/hawaii"},{"state":"Idaho","slug":"idaho","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Idaho Code § 6-801","statuteUrl":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title6/t6ch8/sect6-801/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff recovers only when fault is \"not as great as\" the defendant’s. At exactly 50% the claim is barred.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/idaho"},{"state":"Illinois","slug":"illinois","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"735 ILCS 5/2-1116","statuteUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1116","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Illinois follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. A claimant is barred from recovery when contributory fault is more than 50% of the proximate cause of injury. At 50% or below, damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/illinois"},{"state":"Indiana","slug":"indiana","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-34/article-51/chapter-2/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Indiana’s Comparative Fault Act (IC 34-51-2) bars recovery when the plaintiff’s fault is greater than 50% of the total. Governmental-tort claims retain contributory negligence under separate provisions.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/indiana"},{"state":"Iowa","slug":"iowa","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Iowa Code § 668.3","statuteUrl":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/668.3.pdf","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the combined fault of defendants and released parties.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/iowa"},{"state":"Kansas","slug":"kansas","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-258a","statuteUrl":"https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_002_0058a.html","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is barred when fault is equal to or greater than the combined fault of defendants. Recovery requires the plaintiff to be less than 50% at fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/kansas"},{"state":"Kentucky","slug":"kentucky","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Ky. Rev. Stat. § 411.182","statuteUrl":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17782","caseLawCitation":"Hilen v. Hays, 673 S.W.2d 713 (Ky. 1984)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative negligence adopted in Hilen v. Hays (1984) and codified in KRS 411.182 (1988). Damages are reduced by the claimant’s share of fault with no percentage bar.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/kentucky"},{"state":"Louisiana","slug":"louisiana","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"La. Civ. Code art. 2323 (as amended by 2025 La. Act 15, HB 431)","statuteUrl":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110243","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Effective January 1, 2026, Louisiana switched from pure comparative fault to modified comparative fault with a 51% bar under Act 15 of 2025. Accidents occurring before 1/1/2026 remain under the prior pure-comparative regime.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/louisiana"},{"state":"Maine","slug":"maine","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"14 M.R.S. § 156","statuteUrl":"https://mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec156.html","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the statute expressly provides that a claimant found \"equally at fault\" may not recover. Damages are also reduced as the jury deems just and equitable, an unusual feature.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/maine"},{"state":"Maryland","slug":"maryland","ruleType":"contributory","ruleTypeLabel":"Contributory (pure bar)","ruleTypeDescription":"Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679, 69 A.3d 1149 (2013)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/maryland/court-of-appeals/2013/9-12.html","caseLawCitation":"Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Maryland retains common-law pure contributory negligence; the Court of Appeals reaffirmed the rule in Coleman, declining to adopt comparative fault in light of the General Assembly’s repeated refusal to do so.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/maryland"},{"state":"Massachusetts","slug":"massachusetts","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85","statuteUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section85","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the combined fault of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/massachusetts"},{"state":"Michigan","slug":"michigan","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2959","statuteUrl":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-2959","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Hybrid scheme: pure comparative fault for economic damages, but a 51% bar for non-economic damages when the plaintiff’s fault is \"greater than\" the aggregate fault of others. The cutoff for non-economic damages is treated as the modified-51 threshold here.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/michigan"},{"state":"Minnesota","slug":"minnesota","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Minn. Stat. § 604.01","statuteUrl":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/604.01","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when contributory fault is \"greater than\" the fault of the person against whom recovery is sought.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/minnesota"},{"state":"Mississippi","slug":"mississippi","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-11/chapter-7/in-general/section-11-7-15/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative negligence. Mississippi was the first state to adopt pure comparative negligence by statute in 1910; damages are simply reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/mississippi"},{"state":"Missouri","slug":"missouri","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. 1983)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/1983/63857-0.html","caseLawCitation":"Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. 1983)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative fault adopted by the Missouri Supreme Court in Gustafson v. Benda under the Uniform Comparative Fault Act framework. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.765 codifies pure comparative fault for products-liability claims.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/missouri"},{"state":"Montana","slug":"montana","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-702","statuteUrl":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0010/part_0070/section_0020/0270-0010-0070-0020.html","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when contributory negligence is \"greater than\" the combined fault of all defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/montana"},{"state":"Nebraska","slug":"nebraska","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09","statuteUrl":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-21,185.09","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is \"totally barred\" when contributory negligence is \"equal to or greater than\" the total negligence of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/nebraska"},{"state":"Nevada","slug":"nevada","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Nev. Rev. Stat. § 41.141","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/nevada/chapter-41/statute-41-141/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the negligence of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/nevada"},{"state":"New Hampshire","slug":"new-hampshire","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507:7-d","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/title-lii/chapter-507/section-507-7-d/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the combined fault of defendants. A 50/50 split still allows half recovery.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/new-hampshire"},{"state":"New Jersey","slug":"new-jersey","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"N.J. Stat. § 2A:15-5.1","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-15-5-1/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the combined negligence of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/new-jersey"},{"state":"New Mexico","slug":"new-mexico","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Scott v. Rizzo, 96 N.M. 682, 634 P.2d 1234 (1981)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/new-mexico/supreme-court/1981/96-n-m-682.html","caseLawCitation":"Scott v. Rizzo, 96 N.M. 682, 634 P.2d 1234 (1981)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative negligence adopted judicially by the New Mexico Supreme Court in Scott v. Rizzo. No statutory codification; damages are reduced strictly in proportion to the claimant’s fault.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/new-mexico"},{"state":"New York","slug":"new-york","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411","statuteUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1411","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"New York follows pure comparative negligence under C.P.L.R. § 1411. The claimant’s share of fault reduces but never bars recovery. Comparative fault is an affirmative defense the defendant must plead and prove.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/new-york"},{"state":"North Carolina","slug":"north-carolina","ruleType":"contributory","ruleTypeLabel":"Contributory (pure bar)","ruleTypeDescription":"Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Smith v. Fiber Controls Corp., 300 N.C. 669, 268 S.E.2d 504 (1980)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/north-carolina/supreme-court/1980/108-1.html","caseLawCitation":"Smith v. Fiber Controls Corp., 300 N.C. 669 (1980)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"North Carolina retains common-law pure contributory negligence; any contributory negligence by the plaintiff is a complete bar. The \"last clear chance\" doctrine and gross-negligence exception remain limited mitigators. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 governs the burden of proof on the defense.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/north-carolina"},{"state":"North Dakota","slug":"north-dakota","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"N.D. Cent. Code § 32-03.2-02","statuteUrl":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t32c03-2.pdf","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is barred when contributory fault is \"as great as\" the combined fault of all other parties. Recovery requires fault less than 50%.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/north-dakota"},{"state":"Ohio","slug":"ohio","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33","statuteUrl":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2315.33","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when contributory fault is \"greater than\" the combined tortious conduct of all defendants and nonparties.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/ohio"},{"state":"Oklahoma","slug":"oklahoma","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 13","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-23/section-23-13/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when negligence is \"of greater degree\" than the defendant’s or combined defendants’.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/oklahoma"},{"state":"Oregon","slug":"oregon","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Or. Rev. Stat. § 31.600","statuteUrl":"https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_31.600","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the claimant’s fault is \"not greater than\" the combined fault of all defendants and third-party defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/oregon"},{"state":"Pennsylvania","slug":"pennsylvania","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102","statuteUrl":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.071.002.000..HTM","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the causal negligence of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/pennsylvania"},{"state":"Rhode Island","slug":"rhode-island","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4","statuteUrl":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-20/9-20-4.HTM","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative negligence by statute; damages are diminished in proportion to the claimant’s fault with no percentage bar.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/rhode-island"},{"state":"South Carolina","slug":"south-carolina","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243, 399 S.E.2d 783 (1991)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/south-carolina/supreme-court/1991/23303-2.html","caseLawCitation":"Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243 (1991)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar adopted judicially in Nelson v. Concrete Supply for causes of action arising on or after July 1, 1991. The plaintiff recovers when negligence is \"not greater than\" the defendant’s.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/south-carolina"},{"state":"South Dakota","slug":"south-dakota","ruleType":"slight-gross","ruleTypeLabel":"Slight-gross","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant recovers only if their fault is \"slight\" and the defendant’s fault is \"gross.\" South Dakota only.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"S.D. Codified Laws § 20-9-2","statuteUrl":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/20-9-2","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Unique slight-gross comparative regime: the plaintiff recovers only if contributory negligence is \"slight\" in comparison with the defendant’s negligence; damages are then reduced proportionally. A qualitative determination by the jury rather than a fixed percentage bar.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/south-dakota"},{"state":"Tennessee","slug":"tennessee","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52 (Tenn. 1992)","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/supreme-court/1992/833-s-w-2d-52-2.html","caseLawCitation":"McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52 (Tenn. 1992)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 50% bar (the \"49% rule\") adopted in McIntyre v. Balentine. The plaintiff must be less than 50% at fault to recover; at exactly 50% recovery is barred.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/tennessee"},{"state":"Texas","slug":"texas","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001","statuteUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Texas follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. A claimant whose percentage of responsibility is greater than 50% may not recover damages. At 50% or below, damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault. Codified as \"proportionate responsibility\" in Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/texas"},{"state":"Utah","slug":"utah","ruleType":"modified-50","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 50% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault reaches 50% or more.","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Utah Code § 78B-5-818","statuteUrl":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter5/78B-5-S818.html","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 50% bar; the statute permits recovery only when the defendants’ aggregate fault \"exceeds\" the plaintiff’s, so a 50/50 split bars recovery.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/utah"},{"state":"Vermont","slug":"vermont","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"12 V.S.A. § 1036","statuteUrl":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/027/01036","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the causal total negligence of defendants.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/vermont"},{"state":"Virginia","slug":"virginia","ruleType":"contributory","ruleTypeLabel":"Contributory (pure bar)","ruleTypeDescription":"Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Baskett v. Banks, 186 Va. 1022, 45 S.E.2d 173 (1947)","statuteUrl":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter3/section8.01-58/","caseLawCitation":"Baskett v. Banks, 186 Va. 1022, 45 S.E.2d 173 (1947)","lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Virginia retains pure contributory negligence by common law; any contributory fault is a complete bar. A limited statutory carve-out at Va. Code § 8.01-58 covers railroad/common-carrier employee claims, and the last-clear-chance doctrine applies.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/virginia"},{"state":"Washington","slug":"washington","ruleType":"pure","ruleTypeLabel":"Pure comparative","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant can recover at any percentage of fault; damages are reduced proportionally.","recoveryCutoffPercent":null,"statuteCitation":"Wash. Rev. Code § 4.22.005","statuteUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.22.005","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Pure comparative fault; contributory fault diminishes damages proportionally but does not bar recovery at any percentage.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/washington"},{"state":"West Virginia","slug":"west-virginia","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"W. Va. Code § 55-7-13a","statuteUrl":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-7-13A/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar adopted by 2015 HB 2002; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is \"greater than\" the combined fault of all other responsible persons.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/west-virginia"},{"state":"Wisconsin","slug":"wisconsin","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Wis. Stat. § 895.045","statuteUrl":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/895/i/045","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the plaintiff’s negligence is \"not greater than\" the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought. The plaintiff’s fault is compared individually to each defendant, not the combined defendants, for the bar analysis.","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/wisconsin"},{"state":"Wyoming","slug":"wyoming","ruleType":"modified-51","ruleTypeLabel":"Modified 51% bar","ruleTypeDescription":"Claimant barred when fault is greater than 50% (the 51% rule).","recoveryCutoffPercent":50,"statuteCitation":"Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109","statuteUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-1/chapter-1/section-1-1-109/","caseLawCitation":null,"lastVerified":"2026-05-22","notes":"Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; recovery is permitted when the claimant’s contributory fault is \"not more than fifty percent\" of the total fault of all actors. At 50% the claimant still recovers (reduced).","pageUrl":"https://setcalc.com/comparative-negligence-by-state/wyoming"}]}