---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-11. Mitigation of damages required; exception.
collection: code
id: 51-12-11
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-11 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-12-11
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-12-11.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-12-11/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=955
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-12-10.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / DAMAGES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-12-11. Mitigation of damages required; exception.

When a person is injured by the negligence of another, he must mitigate his damages as far as is practicable by the use of ordinary care and diligence. However, this duty to mitigate does not apply in cases of positive and continuous torts.

## History

Civil Code 1895, § 3802; Civil Code 1910, § 4398; Code 1933, § 105-2014.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey of wills, trusts, guardianships, and fiduciary administration, see 58 Mercer L. Rev. 423 (2006).

## History of Code Section.

The language of this Code section is derived in part from the decisions in Athens Mfg. Co. v. Rucker, 80 Ga. 291, 4 S.E. 885 (1887); Satterfield v. Rowan, 83 Ga. 187, 9 S.E. 677 (1889); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Reid Bros., 83 Ga. 401, 10 S.E. 919 (1889); and Georgia R.R. & Banking Co. v. Eskew, 86 Ga. 641, 12 S.E. 1061 (1891).