2024 Question 3 — LawShortcut Independent Model Answer
Negligently Inflicted Psychiatric Harm
Scenario summary
An HGV driver who is texting clips a roundabout and crushes a tandem bicycle, killing the front rider, Ms G. Her sister, Ms R, seated behind her, sees the crash happen directly. A minute back, Mr C cycles over the scattered debris, bursts a tyre, scrapes his elbow, stops to help and is overcome by what he finds. An off-duty nurse, Ms A, helps keep G stable until the emergency services get there. G later dies in hospital.
G's cousin, Ms E, who works as a dietician at that hospital, is there when she dies and views her body in the mortuary half an hour afterwards. E then uses a video call to show the body to her mother, Ms N — G's aunt — and to her brother, Mr T, who is currently in Japan. The parents of G view the body two hours after her death. R, C, A, E, N and T are all now undergoing psychiatric treatment.
Candidates are asked to advise the six named claimants.
This is a LawShortcut scenario summary written in our own words. For the exact examined wording, use the official King’s Inns paper linked above.
What this model answer covers
Issues and structure addressed in the full LawShortcut model answer:
- Governing Principles
- 1. Ms R — Sister and Direct Participant
- 2. Mr C — Immediate Road User and Minor Physical Injury
- 3. Ms A — Off-Duty Nurse / Rescuer
- 4. Ms E — Cousin Present at Death and Morgue
- 5. Ms N — Aunt Viewing by Video Call
- 6. Mr T — Cousin in Japan
- Overall Ranking
Read the complete LawShortcut model answer to this question — reading the question, issue spotting, the applicable law, application to the facts and conclusions — inside the King’s Inns Tort Model Answer Vault.
Part of the King’s Inns Tort Model Answer Vault — 30 independently authored model answers, 2020—2025.