Car Accident Lawsuits Modified comparative negligence The modified comparative negligence rule in car accident lawsuits is a legal principle which allows for partial reimbursement of damages even if the other party was partly at the fault. This concept was developed to make the process more fair for both sides. If a person is partially at fault for an accident, the court could reduce the amount of their financial compensation to reflect the contribution they made to the accident. In some states, pure comparative negligence can also be applied