What principle prevents all recovery for injuries if the claimant was also considered partially negligent?

The principle that prevents a claimant from recovering damages if they are found to be partially negligent is known as contributory negligence. Under this doctrine, if a plaintiff is found to have any degree of fault for their injury, even as little as 1%, they may be barred from recovering any damages from another party.

This approach operates on the idea that individuals should take responsibility for their own actions and cannot seek complete recovery if they contributed to the harm they suffered. In jurisdictions that adhere to contributory negligence, the severity of the plaintiff's negligence directly impacts their ability to recover, even if the defendant may have also been negligent.

On the other hand, comparative negligence allows for a degree of recovery even if the claimant is partially at fault, as damages awarded are reduced in proportion to the claimant's percentage of fault. Assumption of risk takes a different route, focusing on the voluntary acceptance of known risks associated with an activity that can limit or eliminate the ability to claim damages, regardless of negligence. Negligent behavior pertains to actions that fall below a standard of care but does not specifically address the situation of a claimant’s own negligence impacting their recovery.