---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 30304"
description: "Contributory negligence"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "303"
chapter_name: "DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS"
section: "30304"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 30304"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s30304"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "3d42b07bfaa80375fc73d97c679718f01c2f7e71ba5b88f787bc8dce9aad7f1c"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "74817e9e55ef37b211aca4c6db23c46c083cff995572ffe2bb29a7bc35e750d0"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 30304 - Contributory negligence

## Text

In an action under this chapter, contributory negligence of the decedent is not a bar to recovery. The court shall consider the degree of negligence of the decedent and reduce the recovery accordingly.

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1511.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3030446 App.:766.Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 6, 41 Stat. 537.