Car Accident Lawsuits Modified comparative negligence Modified rules for comparative negligence in auto accident lawsuits allow partial recovery of damages, even though the other party is partially to the fault. This concept was designed to create a more equitable process for both parties. If a person is partly at fault for an accident, the court could reduce the value of their financial compensation to reflect their contribution to the accident. Pure comparative negligence is used in a few states. It is used to determine who was more respons