Lord Atkin stated that we should have a
duty of care if we can reasonably forsee our
actions affecting those closest, and directly
affected by our actions
This is called the NEIGHBOUR PRINCIPLE
The neighbour principle went on to be developed into a 3 part test in
CAPARO V DICKMAN
THE THREE PART TEST IS
1. Were the consequences of the
defendants actions reasonably
foreseeable?
LANGLEY V DRAY
Where it was reasonably
forseeable that there would be
a crash if Langley sped up in
pursuit of a criminal
3. Is it fair, just and reasonable
to impose a duty of care?
HILL V CHIEF CONSTABLE OF WEST YORKSHIRE
This case was not taken to court as a
matter of policy because doing so
would open the floodgates to too many
claims.
POLICY DECISIONS: where
courts are reluctant to impose
a duty of care on certain
public bodies because it would
open the floodgates to
thousands of similar cases
which would waste time and
public funds
2. Was there sufficient proximity between
the claimant and the defendant in terms of
time, space, and relationship?
BOURHILL V YOUNG
Where there was not sufficient proximity
between a pregnant fishwife and a car
accident she claimed cause her to have a
miscarraige