What legal concept describes the plaintiff's own fault contributing to an injury?

• A. Contributory negligence
• B. Standard of Care
• C. Felony
• D. Discrimination

Answer: (A)

Contributory negligence is where the plaintiff’s own carelessness or failure to take reasonable precautions helped cause the harm. When that happens, the defendant’s liability can be reduced or even eliminated, depending on the jurisdiction’s rule. In some places, any amount of the plaintiff’s fault bars recovery entirely (pure contributory negligence), while in many others the damages are shared according to each party’s degree of fault (comparative or modified comparative negligence). In a dental or healthcare context, this concept matters if a patient’s own actions—like not following aftercare instructions or engaging in risky behavior—contribute to an injury or worsened outcome, potentially limiting the provider’s liability. The other terms don’t describe this idea: the standard of care is about how professionals should perform, a felony is a crime, and discrimination involves unfair treatment.