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The doctrine of contributory negligence, which is a cornerstone of private law, is very frequently invoked in practice and also raises a host of pressing theoretical issues. This volume provides legal practitioners and scholars with a clear and comprehensive exposition of the legal principles governing contributory negligence alongside an empirically informed analysis of the way in which the doctrine operates in various recurrent factual scenarios. The doctrinal analysis is supplemented by a consideration of the historical antecedents of the relevant principles and their normative underpinnings. Central to the book are six chapters in which the authors provide an introductory overview of the doctrine; and then proceed to consider its scope; when a finding of contributory negligence will be made; the consequences of such a finding; the relationship between the doctrine and other rules; and matters relating to procedure and appeals. A detailed appendix sets out the discounts imposed for contributory negligence in a range of frequently occurring situations. Although the focus is on the position in the United Kingdom, account is also taken of the case law and literature in several other common law jurisdictions.