How far does my liabiliy stretch in law?

Question

If I'm driving and I crash into the back of someones car, then the road is blocked. And if tony is behind me and is late for a meeting and loses his business contract and if sarah is behind me also and loses her work wages.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Losing a contract and earnings = remotness of damage.

If we go by the 'Wagon Mound' principle (The Wagon Mound No. 1[1961] AC 388) damage must be of a kind that is forseeable.

You'd be liable for any injuries caused.

Source(s):

Law student

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

mmmmhhh!!

Answer 2

A complete disagreement between Ben and Adam. I'm with Ben.

You have a duty of care to other road users to avoid harming them in foreseeable ways. This only extends to the harm directly caused by your actions - so loss or damage to property (eg the car you hit) and personal injury to the occupants.

I think it is highly unlikely that an occupant of the car you hit could claim for a lost business contract, so someone behind you certainly could not. The occupants of the car you hit could claim for loss of earnings stemming from their injuries, but the people behind do not have such a claim.

Answer 3

Your liability stretches as far as a claimant can make it stretch.

Simple

Although much may depend on a criminal charges brought against you by the police and note you may not have to be found guilty of these charges - for any subsequent claim by others - to use that as material for thier case.

Any claim may be a civil case as opposed to criminal.

Answer 4

You are liable for damage and injuries for the car and people in front of you.