Psychiatric Harm Cases

Question 1

Reilly Merseyside RHA 1994

Answer 1

• severe grief and anxiety without a recognized psychiatric illness was not compensable

Question 2

Vernon v Bosley 1997

Answer 2

• Grief is not enough for psychiatric harm

Question 3

Page v Smith

Answer 3

If physical injury is foreseeable, psychiatric harm is also recoverable
-claimant was involved in an car accident

Question 4

Chadwick v British Railway Board 1957

Answer 4

• a rescuer exposed to dangerous was a primary victim and can claim for psychiatric harm

Question 5

Alcock v chief Constable of South Yorkshire

Answer 5

• Secondary victims must satisfy strict control mechanisms to claim for psychiatric harm

Question 6

McLoughlin v O’Brien 1982

Answer 6

Shock suffered at the immediate aftermath can satisfy proximity
-parents and spouses automatically are relationships of close ties

Question 7

Boylan v Keegan

Answer 7

Hearing an accident by phone without witnessing or being present at the scene it insufficient for a claim

Question 8

Dulieu v white

Answer 8

• A pregnant barmaid feared for her own safety when a cart crashed into her workplace and was classed as a primary victim as she was in the zone of danger and could have been easily hurt