Fault systems, state by state
The no-fault label is the part people look up, but the negligence rule underneath it often matters more. A handful of states still bar recovery entirely if you are even slightly at fault.
51 jurisdictions. Click a column heading to sort by it; click a state to see the law behind its figure.
| Alabama | At-fault (tort) | Pure contributory negligence — any fault bars recovery | — |
| Alaska | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative — no bar | — |
| Arizona | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative | — |
| Arkansas | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar | $5,000 |
| California | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative | — |
| Colorado | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar | — |
| Connecticut | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Delaware | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $15,000 |
| District of Columbia | Choice | Pure contributory negligence — any fault at all bars recovery, except for pedestrians and other vulnerable users | $50,000 |
| Florida | No-fault | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $10,000 |
| Georgia | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar | — |
| Hawaii | No-fault | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $10,000 |
| Idaho | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar, measured against each defendant separately | — |
| Illinois | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Indiana | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Iowa | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Kansas | No-fault | Modified comparative — 50% bar | $4,500 |
| Kentucky | Choice | Pure comparative | $10,000 |
| Louisiana | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Maine | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — claimant barred at 50% | — |
| Maryland | At-fault (tort) | Pure contributory negligence — any fault at all bars recovery | $2,500 |
| Massachusetts | No-fault | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $8,000 |
| Michigan | No-fault | Modified comparative — 51% bar on noneconomic damages | $50,000 floor for Medicaid enrollees; $250,000 for everyone else who buys down; unlimited by default |
| Minnesota | No-fault | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $40,000 |
| Mississippi | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative — no percentage bar | — |
| Missouri | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative | — |
| Montana | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Nebraska | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar | — |
| Nevada | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative (51% bar) | — |
| New Hampshire | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| New Jersey | Choice | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $15,000 |
| New Mexico | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative | — |
| New York | No-fault | Pure comparative, except motor vehicle cases — 51% bar | $50,000 |
| North Carolina | At-fault (tort) | Pure contributory negligence — any fault at all bars recovery | — |
| North Dakota | No-fault | Modified comparative — 50% bar | $30,000 |
| Ohio | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Oklahoma | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative negligence — barred only if your fault is greater | — |
| Oregon | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $15,000 |
| Pennsylvania | Choice | — | $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative negligence — no percentage bar | — |
| South Carolina | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| South Dakota | At-fault (tort) | Slight-versus-gross comparative — recovery only if your negligence was slight | — |
| Tennessee | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 50% bar | — |
| Texas | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | $2,500 |
| Utah | No-fault | Modified comparative — 50% bar | $3,000 |
| Vermont | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Virginia | At-fault (tort) | Pure contributory negligence — any fault at all bars recovery | — |
| Washington | At-fault (tort) | Pure comparative | $10,000 |
| West Virginia | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — you recover unless your share of fault is greater than everyone else's combined | — |
| Wisconsin | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |
| Wyoming | At-fault (tort) | Modified comparative — 51% bar | — |