What does contributory negligence refer to in tort law?

Contributory negligence is a legal doctrine in tort law that applies to cases where a plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to the harm they suffered. When this rule is invoked, it can completely bar the harmed party from recovering damages if they are found to have any degree of fault in the incident that caused their injuries. This means that if a plaintiff is even minimally responsible for the accident or injury—regardless of the defendant's level of fault—they may not be able to recover compensation. This strict approach is adopted in a few jurisdictions, emphasizing the principle that individuals have a duty to act reasonably and to avoid putting themselves in situations where they can be harmed.