Bill > H8047

This bill amends Rhode Island's existing comparative negligence law, which is a legal principle that allows a person to recover damages for injuries even if they were partially at fault, but their compensation is reduced based on their degree of fault. Specifically, this bill adds the legal concept of "assumption of risk" to this statute, meaning that if a person knowingly and voluntarily accepts a dangerous situation, their ability to recover damages for injuries sustained in that situation will now be considered. Previously, under comparative negligence, the focus was solely on how much fault the injured party had in causing their own injuries; this change introduces the idea that if someone willingly takes on a known risk, their recovery could be reduced or even barred, similar to how their own negligence already affects their claim. This act will become law immediately upon its approval.