What does "comparative negligence" refer to in Nevada?

Comparative negligence in Nevada refers to the principle that when an accident occurs, the responsibility for the incident is assessed proportionally based on the degree of fault of each party involved. This means that if both the plaintiff and the defendant share some level of fault for the incident, the damages awarded to the plaintiff will be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is found to be 20% at fault for an accident, their potential recovery will be reduced by that percentage. This approach allows for a more equitable allocation of damages based on the actual culpability of each party, rather than an all-or-nothing determination of liability, which might unfairly burden one side.

This system contrasts with the notion of an absolute defense, where a defendant could entirely escape liability, or a scenario of joint liability, where multiple parties can be held responsible regardless of their individual degrees of fault. Understanding how comparative negligence operates is crucial for determining potential recovery amounts in personal injury cases in Nevada.