COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL INJURIES

COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL INJURIES First Edition Peter Barrie MA Barrister, Recorder OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Preface Acknowledgments v vi Table of cases xv Table of Statutes xxiii Table of rules, practice directions, regulations etc Table of codes, agreements etc xxix xlv INTRODUCTION 1 COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES: AN OVERVIEW 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 The importance of insurance 1 1.3 The place of tort compensation 1 1.4 A compensation culture? 2 1.5 Purpose and justification 3 1.6 Insuring oneself 4 1.7 The pattern of change 4 1.8 Pocket calculators 5 1.9 Clinical negligence 6 2 MEANINGS OF LEGAL WORDS AND REFERENCES 8 2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Glossary 2.3 Legal Latin 8 12 2.4 Abbreviations, references and bibliography 13 LIABILITY: GENERAL PRINCIPLES 3 GROUNDS FOR CIVIL LIABILITY 15 3.1 Introduction 15 3.2 Negligence 15 3.3 Breach of statutory duty 19 3.4 Nuisance 20 3.5 Trespass 21 3.6 Breach of contract 21 3.7 Vicarious liability 22 4 CAUSATION AND REMOTENESS 24 4.1 Introduction 24 4.2 But-for causes 24 4.3 A 'material contribution' is sufficient 25 4.4 The test of foreseeability for remoteness of damage 26 4.5 The kind of härm 27 4.6 The interruption of causation 28 4.7 Mitigation of loss 30 4.8 Unexpectedly severe consequences 31 4.9 Successive injuries 32 5 PROOF AND UNCERTAINTY 34 5.1 Bürden and Standard of proof 34 5.2 Past and future uncertainty 35 vii

6.1 6.2 6.3 Sources The 1945 Act Children Seat belts CONTENTS 6 CONTRIBUTORY FAULT 38 7 DEFENCES 43 7.1 Introduction 43 7.2 Willing acceptance of risk 43 7.3 The claimant's wrongdoing 44 7.4 Accident, Act of God, involuntary act 46 7.5 Necessity 46 7.6 Limitation 46 7.7 Exclusion clauses 46 Sources 47 LIABILITY: PARTICULAR CASES 8 ROAD ACCIDENTS 50 8.1 Introduction 51 8.2 Judicial decisions 52 Sources 55 9 THE MOTOR INSURERS'BUREAU 57 Sources 60 10 HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK 76 10.1 Common law duties 76 10.2 Breach of statutory duty 76 10.3 The Work Equipment Regulations 78 10.4 The Workplace Regulations 85 10.5 The Manual Handling Regulations 90 10.6 The Protective Equipment Regulations 96 10.7 The Management Regulations 98 11 ACCIDENTS ON BUILDING SITES 105 Sources 107 12 TRIPPING AND SLIPPING ACCIDENTS 121 12.1 Introduction 121 12.2 Pavements 121 12.3 Supermarkts and other premises 123 12.4 Tripping and slipping at work 124 12.5 Claims handling 124 Sources 125 13 DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS l 28 13.1 Introduction 128 13.2 Breach of contract 128 13.3 Claims in the tort of negligence 129 13.4 Strict liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 129 13.5 Package holidays 13 Sources 1-^1 viü 38 40 41 42

14 THE STATE OF LAND AND BUILDINGS 137 14.1 The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 137 14.2 Common law 137 14.3 Occupiers and visitors 138 14.4 Trespassers 138 14.5 Defences 138 14.6 Liability of landlords 139 Sources 141 15 ANIMALS 145 15.1 Introduction 145 15.2 The Animals Act 1971 145 Sources 148 16 SPORTS INJURIES 152 16.1 Introduction 152 16.2 Liability of players to each other 152 16.3 Liability of referees 153 16.4 Liability to spectators 153 16.5 Liability for grounds and premises 154 17 DELIBERATELY INTENDED INJURIES 155 17.1 Introduction 15 5 17.2 Assaults 155 17.3 False imprisonment 156 Sources 158 18 CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION 159 Sources 161 19 LIABILITY FOR PSYCHIATRIC INJURY 196 19.1 Psychiatrie injuries 196 19.2 Injury together with physical injury 196 19.3 Psychiatrie injury standing alone 196 19.4 Psychiatrie injury where there is also risk of physical injury 197 19.5 Psychiatrie injury frorn witnessing physical injury to others 197 19.6 A 'recognised psychiatric illness' 198 19.7 Psychiatric causes of physical Symptoms 198 20 CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE 202 20.1 Introduction 202 20.2 Which defendant? 202 20.3 Proof of negligence 202 20.4 Consent 203 20.5 Public funding 204 20.6 Practical points 205 20.7 The future 205 21 INJURIES CAUSING DEATH 206 21.1 Introduction 206 21.2 The living claimant 206 21.3 After death 206 Sources 208

22 INQUESTS 209 Sources 211 INJURIES 23 MEANINGS OF MEDICAL TERMS 221 24 NOTES ON SOME COMMON INJURIES 253 24.1 Introduction 253 24.2 Brain injuries 253 24.3 Whiplash 256 24.4 Back injuries 259 24.5 Post-traumatic stress disorder 261 24.6 Illness behaviour 269 25 NOTES ON SOME OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES 271 25.1 Introduction 271 25.2 Deafhess 271 25.3 Repetitive strain injury or RSI 276 25.4 Vibration White Finger 283 25.5 Dermatitis 286 25.6 Occupational asthma 291 25.7 Other lung diseases 292 25.8 Stress at work 295 ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES 26 THE RANGE OF COMPENSATION PAYMENTS 298 26.1 Compensatory damages 298 26.2 Nominal damages 299 26.3 Aggravated damages 299 26.4 Exemplary damages 299 26.5 National insurance benefits 300 26.6 Private insurance benefits 300 26.7 Criminal injuries compensation 300 27 INJURY DAMAGES 301 27.1 Pain and suffering and loss of amenity 301 27.2 The Judicial Studies Board Guidelines 302 27.3 Case law sources 303 27.4 Inflation 303 27.5 Loss of congenial employment 304 27.6 Comment 305 Sources 307 28 THE USE OF MULTIPLIERS 328 28.1 The general principle 328 28.2 The rate of return 329 28.3 The Ogden Tables 329 Sources 331 29 LOSS OF EARNINGS 343 29.1 The simple claim 343 29.2 Tax and NJC 344

29.3 Pension contributions 29.4 Sick pay 344 344 29.5 Uncertain or fluctuating earnings 344 29.6 Small businesses and partnerships 345 29.7 Alternative work: the New Earnings Survey 29.8 Tax and NIC rates 346 347 30 HANDICAP IN THE LABOUR MARKET 352 31 LOSS OF PENSION 354 31.1 Introduction 354 31.2 Employee final earnings schemes 354 31.3 Other pension schemes 356 32 NURSING AND CARING 357 32.1 Medical treatment 357 32.2 Professional and residential care 358 32.3 Recompense for care freely given 359 32.4 How much 360 32.5 Establishing a regime 362 32.6 Rehabilitation 362 32.7 Comment on care damages 363 33 SPECIAL NEEDS AND ACCOMMODATION 365 33.1 Special needs 365 33.2 Accommodation 366 34 OTHER CLAIMS INCLUDING CREDIT HIRE 368 34.1 Damaged belongings 368 34.2 Damaged vehicles 368 34.3 Loss of use and credit hire 369 34.4 Domestic tasks such as housework and DIY 371 34.5 Fuelcosts 371 34.6 Travelling expenses 371 35 STATE AND OTHER BENEFITS 373 35.1 Introduction 373 35.2 Benefits 373 35.3 The treatment of benefits in a claim 377 36 THE BENEFIT RECOUPMENT SYSTEM 380 Sources 383 37 FATAL ACCIDENTS ACT CLAIMS ASSESSMENT 394 37.1 Introduction 394 37.2 The multiplicand 394 37.3 The multiplier 395 37.4 Disregard of other benefits 396 37.5 Calculation of Claims 396 Sources 401 38 PROVISIONAL DAMAGES 407 Sources 410 xi

39 STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 414 Sources 416 40 INVESTMENT ADVICE AND THE COURT OF PROTECTION 422 40.1 Investment advice 422 40.2 The Court of Protection 422 40.3 Special needs trusts 423 Sources 425 41 INTERIM PAYMENTS 428 Sources 430 42 INTEREST 435 42.1 General damages 435 42.2 Special damages 435 42.3 Delay 436 42.4 Interest on a successful Part 36 offer 437 42.5 Procedure 437 Sources 439 PRACTICE 43 RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS AND FUNDING 440 43.1 Where to turn for advice 440 43.2 Traditional engagement of solicitors 441 43.3 Community Legal Service funding or legal aid 442 43.4 Conditional fee agreements 443 43.5 Legal expenses insurance 445 43.6 Comment on conditional fee agreements 445 Sources 446 44 BEFORE COURT PROCEEDINGS BEGIN 459 Sources 462 45 GENERAL RULES OF THE CPR 474 Sources 476 46 THE CLAIM FORM 501 Sources 503 47 STATEMENTS OF CASE 517 47.1 Introduction 517 47.2 General approach 518 47.3 Particulars of claim 519 47.4 Defence 520 47.5 Request for further information 520 Sources 522 48 SCHEDULES AND COUNTER-SCHEDULES 542 49 CASE MANAGEMENT AND ALLOCATION 549 Sources 551 xü

50 STRIKING OUT AND SUMMARY JUDGMENT 575 50.1 Introduction 575 50.2 Striking out 575 50.3 Summary judgment 576 Sources 577 51 SMALL CLAIMS 584 Sources 585 52 FAST TRACK CLAIMS 594 Sources 596 53 THE MULTI-TRACK 613 Sources 614 54 MORE THAN TWO PARTIES 630 54.1 Tactics 630 54.2 Bullock Orders and Sanderson Orders 631 54.3 The new provisions 631 Sources 632 55 DISCLOSURE OF DOCUMENTS AND VIDEOS 640 55.1 The list of documents 640 55.2 Privilege 641 55.3 Surveillance Videos 642 Sources 645 56 EVIDENCE OF THE FACTS 656 56.1 Introduction 656 56.2 Witnesses 656 56.3 Hearsay evidence 658 Sources 659 57 EXPERTS 675 Sources 679 58 APPLICATIONS AND TRIAL 690 58.1 Introduction 690 58.2 Evidence in chief 691 58.3 Cross-examination 692 58.4 Re-examination 692 Sources 693 59 TIME LIMITS FOR CLAIMS: LIMITATION 707 Sources 713 60 CHILDREN AND INCAPABLE PATIENTS 721 Sources 723 xüi

61 SETTLEMENT AND PART 36 737 61.1 Principles 737 61.2 Settlement 738 61.3 Privilege 739 61.4 Claimant's Part 36 offer 739 Sources 740 62 COSTS 62.1 General principles 62.2 Summary assessment 62.3 Detailed assessment 62.4 The indemnity principle 62.5 Wasted costs 62.6 Security for costs 62.7 Sources 63 APPEALS 757 757 759 760 760 760 761 761 63.1 Permission to appeal 825 63.2 Procedure for the appeal 826 63.3 Grounds on which an appeal can succeed 826 63.4 To which court does an appeal lie? 827 Sources 829 64 REFERENCE INFORMATION 859 Calendar 1997 to 2004 859 Conversion multipliers 863 Income tax and National Insurance rates 863 Useful addresses and Websites 865 Addresses of courts 865 Some after-the-event insurance firms for conditional fee agreements 879 INDEX 881 825 xiv