What is meant by Contributory Negligence?

Contributory negligence refers to a legal concept where the actions or behavior of the claimant (the person bringing the claim) play a role in causing the harm they have suffered. In jurisdictions where contributory negligence is recognized, if the claimant is found to have contributed to their injury or loss, it may lead to a reduction in the damages they can recover from the defendant (the party being accused of causing the harm).

For example, if a person is injured while walking on a street and was also distracted by their phone at the time of the incident, their distracted behavior may be deemed a contributing factor to the accident. As a result, the compensation they receive may be adjusted downward based on the degree to which their negligence contributed to the injury. This system is intended to ensure that claimants are held partially accountable for their actions, fostering a sense of responsibility while still allowing them to seek damages for harm caused by others.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of contributory negligence. One option suggests that the claimant's actions completely absolve the defendant of liability, which is not true under this doctrine. Another option implies that the defendant is automatically liable regardless of the claimant's behavior, contradicting the fundamental principle of contributory negligence. Lastly