A groundbreaking High Court case where a motor insurer was held liable to pay compensation for an accident caused while the policyholder was walking, has settled for a ‘significant’ six-figure sum shortly before appeal. Gordon Woodward, crossing the road to his mobile burger van, collided with a motorbike ridden by Christopher Wastell, and died. Wastell sustained severe injuries, and sought compensation.
The High Court accepted Wastell’s solicitor’s argument that Woodward’s negligence ‘arose out of the use’ of his van. The case, Wastell v Woodward (Deceased) (unreported), settled in November.
Andrew Campbell, partner at Bikelawyer, who acted for Wastell, said the case was likely to encourage ‘more novel cases’ being brought where the defendant’s vehicle is ‘merely one part of what can often be a complex chain of events’.
