What is the key characteristic of pure comparative negligence?

In the context of pure comparative negligence, the key characteristic is that a plaintiff's recovery from damages is directly reduced by the percentage of their own fault in causing the injury. This principle allows for a more equitable distribution of responsibility between the parties involved in an accident or wrongdoing. For instance, if a plaintiff is found to be 30% at fault for the incident, they can still recover 70% of the damages awarded, reflecting the idea that they should not bear the entire burden of the financial consequences of their injury when they are not wholly responsible.

This system allows plaintiffs to recover some portion of their damages regardless of the degree of fault they may hold, distinguishing it from other comparative negligence systems, such as modified comparative negligence, where a plaintiff may be barred from recovery if their fault exceeds a certain threshold, like 50%. The other options do not accurately reflect the essence of pure comparative negligence, which focuses on the proportional adjustment of damages based on fault rather than outright limits on recovery or conditions on when recovery is possible.