State Fault Laws

Truck Accident Fault Laws by State

At-Fault vs No-Fault, Comparative Negligence, and FMCSA Commercial Truck Rules

40

At-Fault States

8

No-Fault States

3

Choice States

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StateSystemComparativeThreshold
AlabamaAt-FaultContributoryNone
AlaskaAt-FaultPureNone
ArizonaAt-FaultPureNone
ArkansasAt-FaultModified 50%50%
CaliforniaAt-FaultPureNone
ColoradoAt-FaultModified 50%50%
ConnecticutAt-FaultModified 51%51%
DelawareAt-FaultModified 51%51%
FloridaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
GeorgiaAt-FaultModified 50%50%
HawaiiNo-FaultModified 51%Serious injury
IdahoAt-FaultModified 50%50%
IllinoisAt-FaultModified 51%51%
IndianaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
IowaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
KansasNo-FaultModified 50%$2,000 med
KentuckyChoicePureChoice
LouisianaAt-FaultPureNone
MaineAt-FaultModified 50%50%
MarylandAt-FaultContributoryNone
MassachusettsNo-FaultModified 51%$2,000 med
MichiganNo-FaultModified 50%Serious injury
MinnesotaNo-FaultModified 51%$4,000 med
MississippiAt-FaultPureNone
MissouriAt-FaultPureNone
MontanaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
NebraskaAt-FaultModified 50%50%
NevadaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
New HampshireAt-FaultModified 51%51%
New JerseyChoiceModified 51%Choice
New MexicoAt-FaultPureNone
New YorkNo-FaultPureSerious injury
North CarolinaAt-FaultContributoryNone
North DakotaNo-FaultModified 50%$2,500 med
OhioAt-FaultModified 51%51%
OklahomaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
OregonAt-FaultModified 51%51%
PennsylvaniaChoiceModified 51%Choice
Rhode IslandAt-FaultPureNone
South CarolinaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
South DakotaAt-FaultModified 51%51%
TennesseeAt-FaultModified 50%50%
TexasAt-FaultModified 51%51%
UtahNo-FaultModified 50%$3,000 med
VermontAt-FaultModified 51%51%
VirginiaAt-FaultContributoryNone
WashingtonAt-FaultPureNone
Washington DCAt-FaultContributoryNone
West VirginiaAt-FaultModified 50%50%
WisconsinAt-FaultModified 51%51%
WyomingAt-FaultModified 51%51%

Understanding Fault Systems

At-Fault States

The at-fault driver pays all damages.

No-Fault States

Your own insurance pays regardless of fault (with limits).

Contributory Negligence

Any fault = $0 recovery (AL, DC, MD, NC, VA only).

Modified Comparative

Recovery reduced by fault %, barred if 50-51%+.