When you’re involved in a car accident, you can expect the other party to try to decrease your compensation by claiming you share some of the blame. This is known as comparative negligence.

Unlike pure comparative fault, which bars an injured party from recovering damages if they are 50% or more at fault, modified comparative negligence allows damaged parties to recover their losses minus their level of responsibility.

Contributory Negligence

The laws of negligence vary significantly from state to state, and these differences can affect how much you can recover from your accident. The following infographic from a visual data firm shows a breakdown of the various states’ negligence laws and how they impact your ability to collect compensation. Hover over each state to see the different negligence laws they follow. Traditionally, many states used what is known as the doctrine of contributory negligence, which bars plaintiffs from collecting damages if they are even 1% at fault for an accident. This type of law has led to harsh results, and most jurisdictions have moved away from it.

Today, some states use the doctrine of contributory negligence, while most other states follow a form of comparative negligence. The two most common forms of comparative negligence are pure and modified comparative fault. It  is unique because it uses a hybrid of the two called slight/gross comparative negligence.

Pure Comparative Negligence

When multiple defendants are involved in a case, it becomes difficult to determine who is to blame for causing the accident. Pure comparative negligence in Pennsylvania rules attempts to resolve these issues by allowing plaintiffs to recover damages minus their percentage of fault.

For example, if the jury finds that the plaintiff was 40% at fault for causing the accident and the defendant was 30% at fault, the plaintiff would recover from each defendant.

Unlike most jurisdictions that follow modified comparative negligence rules, this system is still utilized in thirteen states. These rules have helped injured victims to receive the monetary compensation they need after their accidents. However, it has not prevented injured parties from pursuing their claims against negligent defendants. In comparison, a jury finding that the plaintiff was 50% at fault for causing the accident would only be able to recover. This is why it is important to consult experienced attorneys about comparative negligence rules.

Modified Comparative Negligence

In states that follow modified comparative negligence rules, the jury will review all evidence and assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in an accident. This percentage of fault will then be used to determine how much an injured party can recover for their losses.

Pure comparative negligence law allows you to file a claim even if you’re found to be 99% responsible for an accident. Still, it reduces your total settlement amount by that same percentage. This is the standard comparative negligence law followed.

In modified comparative negligence states, you can still claim for physical injury, property damage, and wrongful death if your share of the fault is below 50%. If it is above that threshold, you are barred from recovery. 

Threshold Rules

A state’s comparative negligence rules dictate how the parties involved in an accident will apportion responsibility and compensation for damages. It is essential to know the laws of your state so you can make the best choice for your car accident claim.

Most states follow comparative negligence, but each has rules for applying this law in personal injury cases. For example, some states follow pure comparative negligence, which allows all parties to recover damages minus their degree of fault in the incident. Other states follow modified comparative negligence, which bars plaintiffs from claiming if they are found to be more than a certain percentage at fault for the incident.

Still, others use the contributory negligence rule, which prevents victims from recovering if they are found to be even one percent at fault for an incident. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand your state’s rules.

As an employer, ensuring workplace compliance is essential to avoid legal trouble and create a safe and healthy work environment. One of the critical components of i9 and workplace compliance is properly handling the i9 form. In this article, we’ll explore what the i9 form is, why it’s important, and how to maintain compliance.

What is the i9 Form?

The i9 form is a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document that verifies an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States. Employers must complete the i9 form for each new employee they hire. The i9 form requires employers to provide proof of their identity and work authorization, such as a passport or driver’s license and Social Security card.

Why is i9 Compliance Important?

Maintaining i9 compliance is critical for employers to avoid legal penalties and ensure that their employees are authorized to work in the United States. Failing to complete i9 forms correctly can result in fines and legal action from the federal government, as well as damage to a company’s reputation. Employers can also face legal consequences for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers.

Steps to maintain i9 Compliance

To maintain i9 compliance, employers should follow these steps:

Use the most current version of the i9 form: The USCIS regularly updates the i9 form, and employers should use the most current version to ensure compliance.

Request i9 documentation

Employers should request documentation from new hires that proves their identity and work authorization. Acceptable documentation includes passports, driver’s licenses, and Social Security cards.

Complete i9 forms in a timely manner

Employers must complete i9 forms for new hires within three days of their start date. Failure to do so can result in penalties.

Retain i9 forms

Employers must retain i9 forms for all current and former employees. I9 forms should be stored separately from personnel files and kept for at least three years after an employee’s termination date.

Conclusion

Maintaining i9 compliance is essential for employers to avoid legal penalties and ensure that their employees are authorized to work in the United States. Following the steps outlined in this article can help employers stay compliant and create a safe and healthy work environment. Remember, using the most current version of the i9 form, requesting proper documentation, completing i9 forms in a timely manner, and retaining i9 forms are all essential components of maintaining i9 compliance.

Not saving receipts for rental property expenses can carry significant risks, both in terms of potential financial losses and legal consequences. Here are some of the risks of not saving receipts for rental property expenses:

Loss of Tax Deductions: Rental property owners are entitled to deduct various expenses associated with their rental property on their tax returns, such as repairs, maintenance, utilities, property taxes, and mortgage interest. However, to claim these deductions, you must be able to prove your expenses by providing documentation, such as receipts, invoices, or bank statements. If you cannot provide proper documentation, you may lose out on potential tax deductions, which could result in a higher tax bill.

Audit by the IRS: If you cannot provide proper documentation for your rental property expenses during an IRS audit, you may be subject to penalties and fines. The IRS may disallow your deductions and require you to pay back taxes, interest, and penalties.

Legal Liability: Keeping records of your rental property expenses can help protect you from legal liability in case of a dispute with tenants or contractors. If you cannot provide documentation to support your expenses, you may have difficulty defending yourself in court.

Difficulty in Managing Cash Flow: Keeping track of rental property expenses can help you manage your cash flow and ensure that you have enough money to cover your expenses. Without proper records, it can be difficult to know how much money you are spending on your rental property and where your money is going.

The use of PortfolioBay’s free receipt scanner can be a great help in bookkeeping for rental property owners. By utilizing this tool, they can easily keep track of their rental property expenses, which can be important for tax purposes and legal compliance. The scanner can quickly and accurately digitize paper receipts, extract the relevant information, and store it in the cloud. This can save rental property owners time and effort, as they don’t need to manually input data from paper receipts into their accounting software or spreadsheets. Moreover, the scanner’s OCR technology can automatically annotate the expenses and allow rental property owners to generate reports to track their spending. With the help of PortfolioBay’s receipt scanner, rental property owners can focus on growing their business and leave the bookkeeping to the software.

In summary, not saving receipts for rental property expenses can result in lost tax deductions, potential legal liability, difficulty managing cash flow, and the risk of being audited by the IRS. Therefore, it is important to keep detailed records of all your rental property expenses and maintain them for at least three years.