Car Accident Lawsuits Modified comparative negligence Modified rules for comparative negligence in auto accident lawsuits allow partial recovery of damages, even if the other party is partially to the fault. This idea was developed to make the process more fair for both sides. A court can limit the amount of financial compensation if the person who is partly responsible for an accident , in order to reflect their contribution. Pure comparative negligence is applied in some states. It is applied to determine who was more accountable for the in