Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945

1 Apportionment of liability in case of contributory negligence. E+W+S

(1) Where any person suffers damage as the result partly of his own fault and partly of the fault of any other person or persons, a claim in respect of that damage shall not be defeated by reason of the fault of the person suffering the damage, but the damages recoverable in respect thereof shall be reduced to such extent as the court thinks just and equitable having regard to the claimant’s share in the responsibility for the damage:

Provided that—

(a) this subsection shall not operate to defeat any defence arising under a contract;

(b) where any contract or enactment providing for the limitation of liability is applicable to the claim, the amount of damages recoverable by the claimant by virtue of this subsection shall not exceed the maximum limit so applicable.

(2) Where damages are recoverable by any person by virtue of the foregoing subsection subject to such reduction as is therein mentioned, the court shall find and record the total damages which would have been recoverable if the claimant had not been at fault.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(5) Where, in any case to which subsection (1) of this section applies, one of the persons at fault avoids liability to any other such person or his personal representative by pleading the M1 Limitation Act 1939, or any other enactment limiting the time within which proceedings may be taken, he shall not be entitled to recover any damages [F3 or contributions] from that other person or representative by virtue of the said subsection.

(6) Where any case to which subsection (1) of this section applies is tried with a jury, the jury shall determine the total damages which would have been recoverable if the claimant had not been at fault and the extent to which those damages are to be reduced.

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1(3) repealed by Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (c. 47), Sch. 2

F2 S. 1(4) repealed by Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (c. 30), Sch. 2

F3 Words repealed (E.W.) by Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (c. 47), Sch. 2

F4 S. 1(7) repealed by Carriage by Air Act 1961 (c. 27), Sch. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1939 c. 21.