What is the primary principle behind comparative negligence?

Comparative negligence is based on the principle that liability is shared according to the degree of negligence attributed to each party involved in an incident. This means that if both the plaintiff and defendant contributed to the accident, the damages awarded to the plaintiff can be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is found to be 30% at fault for an accident while the defendant is 70% at fault, the plaintiff's recovery would be reduced by their percentage of fault. This approach allows for a more equitable distribution of liability, reflecting the actual contribution to the situation.

The other options do not align with the foundational concept of comparative negligence. Equal liability does not account for varying degrees of fault, solely holding the plaintiff liable contradicts the shared responsibility principle, and stating that the defendant is always at fault ignores the potential contributions of the plaintiff's actions to the incident.