Which concept refers to a defense against negligence when a plaintiff knowingly engages in risky behavior?

The concept that refers to a defense against negligence when a plaintiff knowingly engages in risky behavior is known as Assumption of Risk. This legal doctrine posits that if an individual is aware of a particular risk associated with an activity and voluntarily decides to participate in that activity, they may be precluded from winning a negligence claim related to any injury suffered as a result of that risk.

In essence, Assumption of Risk acknowledges that individuals have the right to make choices regarding their own safety and that those choices can come with inherent dangers. For instance, if a person decides to participate in a contact sport, they are generally assumed to accept the risks associated with injury that come with that sport. Therefore, should they sustain an injury, they might be unable to hold the entity responsible for negligence since they willingly accepted those risks.

The other concepts presented do not relate specifically to a plaintiff's voluntary acceptance of risk in this manner. Comparative Negligence addresses the situation where both parties may share fault in an accident, vicarious liability involves the responsibility of one party for the actions of another (often within employment contexts), and absolute liability pertains to a legal standard that holds a party liable without the need to prove negligence or fault.