In which circumstances does comparative negligence not apply in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the principle of comparative negligence allows for damages to be apportioned based on the degree of fault attributable to each party involved in an accident. However, the rule encompasses scenarios where a party's own negligence contributed to their injury. The correct understanding is that comparative negligence does not apply in situations where one party is completely at fault for the incident.

In cases where a party contributed to their own injury, that party's share of the blame may still be evaluated, and their compensation may be reduced accordingly. Therefore, the nature of comparative negligence means that option C, which suggests that it would not apply simply because a party contributed to their own injury, misses the nuance of how comparative negligence functions.

On the other hand, when one party is fully liable, or when both parties share equal blame, those situations create a more straightforward application of the law. The concept of proving negligence beyond a reasonable doubt pertains more to criminal law rather than comparative negligence, which operates under a preponderance of evidence standard in civil cases. Thus, the framework of comparative negligence is built around assessing fault and ensuring fair compensation based on degrees of responsibility.