What is the difference between primary and secondary victims

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Precedents 4. Abuse and criminal injuries. Accidents abroad. Accidents on the highway. Injuries caused by animals. Noise-induced hearing loss. Occupational disease. Occupiers' liability. Product liability. Psychiatric and occupational stress.

Public authorities and the state. Road traffic accidents. Sports injuries. Trips and slips. Sign-in Help. Published on: 22 December Published by: LexisPSL. What should practitioners consider when dealing with a secondary victim psychiatric claim? What is the difference between primary and secondary victims? Primary victims Secondary victims Event? What issues should practitioners consider when dealing with such cases?

Access this content for free with a trial of LexisPSL and benefit from: Instant clarification on points of law Smart search Workflow tools 36 practice areas. Back Step 1 of 2 Basic information. Step 1 Step 2 Name. It is plausible that someone may be left distressed by a video showing a fatal accident, despite being hundreds of miles away.

Yet few would argue that it would be fair or proportionate for an individual or company to be liable to compensate any number of viewers for the harm they have suffered. It is here that the concept of reasonable foreseeability, and the Alcock criteria, appear sensible. There has always been an element of public policy in the law, in that there is a need to keep the floodgates closed to loosely connected claims, and this may be even more important today.

It is not a stretch to accept there may be a difference between viewing a news report hours after an accident has occurred and seeing an unedited video in real time or shortly after the event. Our increased understanding of psychiatric injury and the impact it may have on an individual, regardless of whether they are a primary or secondary victim, may also be reason for reconsidering who should be entitled to compensation.

As technology and medical understanding continue to progress, we may indeed see a change in the position of secondary victims, but it is likely that restrictions of some type will always be required. The distinction between primary and secondary victims, and the decisions of the courts in this respect, are therefore of continued significance. Blog by Amy Haughton, Solicitor. There are many ways you can get in touch with us.

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