## Illinois comparative fault rule

The controlling primary authority for US-IL damages allocation authority (735 ILCS 5/2-1116) is **735**.

> **735.** In all actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage to property, based on negligence, or product liability based on strict tort liability, the plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.

## Source-backed allocation summary

US-IL damages allocation controlling authority under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.

This source-backed page does not certify limitation periods, damages caps, case-law exceptions, or calculator formula assumptions beyond the quoted statutory allocation rule.

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's damages-allocation tool can model allocation scenarios once you identify the controlling jurisdiction, claim posture, and negligence shares. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source rule.

[Open the Damages Allocation calculator](/tools/damages-allocation)

## Sources

- [735 — 735 ILCS 5/2-1116](https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1116)

All sources are official primary law published by `www.ilga.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


How to calculate pain and suffering damages in Illinois using DocketMath and jurisdiction-aware rules.

How to calculate pain and suffering damages in Illinois

The plaintiff shall not be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is not more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in the proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the plaintiff. No contributory fault may be attributed to a plaintiff bringing an action for damages for personal injury based on childhood sexual abuse as defined in Section 13-202.2.

Plaintiff who is 50% or less at fault recovers damages diminished in proportion to that fault.

Plaintiff who is more than 50% at fault is barred from recovery.

Except as provided in Section 2-1118, in actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage to property, based on negligence, or product liability based on strict tort liability, all defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for plaintiff's past and future medical and medically related expenses. Any defendant whose fault, as determined by the trier of fact, is less than 25% of the total fault attributable to the plaintiff, the defendants sued by the plaintiff, and any third party defendant except the plaintiff's employer, shall be severally liable for all other damages. Any defendant whose fault, as determined by the trier of fact, is 25% or greater of the total fault attributable to the plaintiff, the defendants sued by the plaintiff, and any third party defendants except the plaintiff's employer, shall be jointly and severally liable for all other damages.

Any defendant whose fault, as determined by the trier of fact, is less than 25% of the total fault attributable to the plaintiff, the defendants sued by the plaintiff, and any third party defendant except the plaintiff's employer, shall be severally liable for all other damages. Any defendant whose fault, as determined by the trier of fact, is 25% or greater of the total fault attributable to the plaintiff, the defendants sued by the plaintiff, and any third party defendants except the plaintiff's employer, shall be jointly and severally liable for all other damages.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-1117, in any action in which the trier of fact determines that the injury or damage for which recovery is sought was caused by an act involving the discharge into the environment of any pollutant, including any waste, hazardous substance, irritant or contaminant, including, but not limited to smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, asbestos, toxic or corrosive chemicals, radioactive waste or mine tailings, and including any such material intended to be recycled, reconditioned or reclaimed, any defendants found liable shall be jointly and severally liable for such damage. However, Section 2-1117 shall apply to a defendant who is a response action contractor. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-1117, in any medical malpractice action, as defined in Section 2-1704, based upon negligence, any defendants found liable shall be jointly and severally liable.

In all actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage to property, based on negligence, or product liability based on strict tort liability, the plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought. The plaintiff shall not be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is not more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in the proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the plaintiff.

damages allocation in US-IL is governed by 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.

How to calculate pain and suffering damages in Illinois

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Illinois comparative fault rule

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