South Dakota Jury Instruction — 1.1 Comparative Negligence Defense is an essential legal instruction provided to juries in South Dakota during a trial involving negligence claims. This instruction helps jurors understand the concept of comparative negligence and its implications on determining the defendant's liability. Comparative negligence is a legal principle used in personal injury cases to allocate the responsibility for damages between the parties involved based on their respective degrees of fault. This instruction guides the jury in assessing the plaintiff's negligence and comparing it to the defendant's negligence to determine the appropriate compensation. Keywords: South Dakota, jury instruction, 1.1, comparative negligence defense, negligence claims, legal instruction, jury, trial, damages, liability. Different types of South Dakota Jury Instruction — 1.1 Comparative Negligence Defense may include: 1. Pure Comparative Negligence: In this type of comparative negligence doctrine, the plaintiff is entitled to recover damages even if they are 99% responsible for the accident. The damages awarded are reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff. 2. Modified Comparative Negligence (50% Rule): Under this approach, the plaintiff can only recover damages if their percentage of fault is less than or equal to the defendant's. If the plaintiff is found to be 51% or more at fault, they are barred from receiving any compensation. 3. Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Rule): Similar to the 50% rule, this approach allows the plaintiff to recover damages only if their fault is less than the defendant's. However, the plaintiff can still recover compensation if their fault is equal to or less than 50%. These variations in comparative negligence laws highlight the importance of understanding which doctrine is applicable in South Dakota, as it directly affects the potential outcome of a personal injury lawsuit. In summary, South Dakota Jury Instruction — 1.1 Comparative Negligence Defense is a crucial legal guideline provided to juries in negligence cases. By explaining the concept of comparative negligence and its different variations, this instruction helps jurors determine the degree of fault and allocate damages fairly between the parties involved.