contributory negligence

noun

, Law.

negligence on the part of an injured party that combines with the negligence of another in causing the injury, sometimes so as to diminish or bar the recovery of damages for the injury.

law failure by an injured person to have taken proper precautions to prevent an accident

First recorded in 1870–75

We have practically agreed on that, and that leaves the only defense remaining for the employer, that of contributory negligence.

Mr. Flora: Cannot they bring in the law of contributory negligence?

In his own words, “We wish to avoid bringing in again under another name the old principle of contributory negligence.”

All this was in as perfect accordance with law as our fellow-servant or contributory-negligence doctrines.

Defendant pleaded that in omitting to sound its hooter the owl was guilty of contributory negligence.

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