Last Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer
Georgia compares fault. If you are found partly responsible, the judge reduces the award by that percentage. If you are found 50 percent or more responsible, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 generally bars recovery. This is not Alabama’s contributory-negligence rule.
If the injury happened in Georgia, this is the statute insurers argue about. O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 is the text. We describe it in English. Percentages in a real case come from a jury or a settlement, not from a web form. For Alabama, use contributory negligence.
The reduction, then the bar
Subsection (a) says the trier of fact decides your percentage, and the judge reduces the damages by that share. Subsection (g) is the hard line: 50 percent or more, and you generally recover nothing. That single point is why Georgia files still turn into ugly fights about your speed, your lookout, or your phone.
More than one defendant
When the case is against more than one person, the statute also addresses apportionment among those who are liable. How that works in a one-defendant case versus a multi-defendant case is a lawyer-and-court question. We are not going to flatten the case law into a slogan. See the Georgia injury hub.
How Brock & Stout can help
We work the percentage fight with the report and the records, and we keep Alabama’s rule out of a Georgia file. Call or request a free consultation. We cannot promise a particular result.
Georgia personal injury offices
Frequently asked questions
Personal injury claims are subject to filing deadlines, and the deadline that applies can depend on the facts of the case. Different notice requirements may apply depending on who is involved. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Speak with an attorney promptly.
Not under § 51-12-33. A small share can reduce the award. A finding of 50 percent or more generally bars recovery. Alabama’s rule is stricter. Use the page that matches the state.
Related resources
- Alabama Contributory Negligence — Alabama Contributory Negligence
In many Alabama negligence cases, if you are found even slightly at fault, you can recover nothing. That is contributory negligence. Insurers look for any reason to say you share blame. This page is Alabama law. It is not Georgia law.
- Car Accident Injury Claims — Car Accident Injury Claims
If another driver’s negligence caused a crash, you may have a claim against that driver and available insurance. Your own policy can also matter, including uninsured motorist coverage. This page does not calculate a filing deadline or a settlement value.
- Georgia Personal Injury Law — Georgia Personal Injury Law
Georgia personal injury claims generally reduce recovery by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. If that percentage is high enough under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, recovery can be barred. That is not Alabama’s contributory-negligence rule. This page does not calculate a filing date.
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents — Multi-Vehicle Accidents
A multi-vehicle crash involves three or more vehicles, or a chain that keeps going after the first hit. More cars means more insurers, more stories, and more chances that someone tries to hand you a share of the blame.
- Slip and Fall Injury Claims — Slip and Fall Injury Claims
You may have a claim if a property owner or occupier failed to use reasonable care and that failure caused your fall. Wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, and unmarked hazards are common fact patterns. Falling is not enough by itself. The owner’s knowledge of the hazard often matters.
Injured and not sure what to do next?
Call now or request a free case evaluation. We can review what happened and explain options. We cannot promise a particular result.
This page is general educational information about personal injury claims as of the date shown. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee a result. Facts, insurance coverage, and state law vary. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Personal Injury Knowledge Center
