The Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 made it possible for judges to make awards of damages to plaintiffs who had been in part responsible, by reason of their own negligence, for causing their injury: prior to this Act, if the plaintiff were at all negligent no damages could be awarded. 2 The National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946 replaced the Workmen’s Compensation Scheme with a State system of providing income maintenance for the victims of industrial accidents and prescribed industrial diseases. Employees shared responsibility with employers for contributing to the funding of this scheme. When the State scheme was brought into operation the plaintiff no longer had to choose between claiming income maintenance and suing for common law damages. 3 The Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948 abolished the doctrine of common employment. 4 A legal aid scheme was introduced to make better provision for assisting those who could not afford the costs of litigation. In this new climate the tort of negligence and the rules relating to compensation for breach of statutory duty were tested and developed. The body of law that has emerged will be considered in the following chapters.

DOI link for The Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 made it possible for judges to make awards of damages to plaintiffs who had been in part responsible, by reason of their own negligence, for causing their injury: prior to this Act, if the plaintiff were at all negligent no damages could be awarded. 2 The National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946 replaced the Workmen’s Compensation Scheme with a State system of providing income maintenance for the victims of industrial accidents and prescribed industrial diseases. Employees shared responsibility with employers for contributing to the funding of this scheme. When the State scheme was brought into operation the plaintiff no longer had to choose between claiming income maintenance and suing for common law damages. 3 The Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948 abolished the doctrine of common employment. 4 A legal aid scheme was introduced to make better provision for assisting those who could not afford the costs of litigation. In this new climate the tort of negligence and the rules relating to compensation for breach of statutory duty were tested and developed. The body of law that has emerged will be considered in the following chapters.

The Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 made it possible for judges to make awards of damages to plaintiffs who had been in part responsible, by reason of their own negligence, for causing their injury: prior to this Act, if the plaintiff were at all negligent no damages could be awarded. 2 The National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946 replaced the Workmen’s Compensation Scheme with a State system of providing income maintenance for the victims of industrial accidents and prescribed industrial diseases. Employees shared responsibility with employers for contributing to the funding of this scheme. When the State scheme was brought into operation the plaintiff no longer had to choose between claiming income maintenance and suing for common law damages. 3 The Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948 abolished the doctrine of common employment. 4 A legal aid scheme was introduced to make better provision for assisting those who could not afford the costs of litigation. In this new climate the tort of negligence and the rules relating to compensation for breach of statutory duty were tested and developed. The body of law that has emerged will be considered in the following chapters.