Practice Direction 18.1 - The Personal Injuries List

Sep 16, 2026

Practice Direction 18.1 establishes procedural rules for actions involving damages arising from death or personal injury, setting when matters must be commenced in the Personal Injury List and how they are assigned and marked. It requires a claimant to send a letter of claim before proceedings in a specified format, with disclosure of relevant medical reports, and sets time limits for constructive replies and subsequent investigation. It also addresses handling and filing of key documents, including steps to protect confidential or privileged material and guidance for interlocutory applications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages74

Reading Time26 min

AccessFree to download

Practice Direction 18.1

The Personal Injuries List

Letter before action

Commencement of Proceedings

Pleadings

Documents to be served with the Statement of Claim

Documents to be served with the Defence

Interlocutory Applications

Transfer from the P.I. List

The Check List Review

The Pre-Trial Review

Undue Delay, Default and unnecessary applications

Assessment of Damages

Filing of documents at the Registry

Photographs

Bundles of documents for trial

Actions by persons under a disability

Drawing up Orders

Annex A Specimen letter before action

Annex B & Specimen General Indorsements on Writs

Annex D Notice of Check List Review

Annex E Check List

Annex F Pre-Trial Review Notice

Annex G Specimen Order on Check List Review or Pre-Trial Review

PRACTICE DIRECTION-18.1 THE PERSONAL INJURIES LIST INDEX The Personal Injuries List 1. Letter before action 2. Commencement of Proceedings 3. Pleadings 4. Documents to be served with the Statement of Claim 5. Documents to be served with the Defence 6. Compliance with Order 25 Rule 8 7. Interlocutory Applications 8. Transfer from the P.I.List 9. The Check List Review 10. The Pre-Trial Review 11. Undue Delay, Default and unnecessary applications 12. Assessment of Damages 13. Filing of documents at the Registry 14. Photographs 15. Bundles of documents for trial 16. Actions by persons under a disability 17. Drawing up Orders 18. Annex A Specimen letter before action Annex B & Specimen General Indorsements on Writs C Annex D Notice of Check List Review Annex E Check List Annex F Pre-Trial Review Notice Annex G Specimen Order on Check List Review or Pre-Trial Review PRACTICE DIRECTION 18.1 THE PERSONAL INJURIES LIST This PRACTICE DIRECTION replaces the Practice Directions of 10 April 1996, 24 July 1998 [Practice Direction 18.1] and 23 October 1999 [Practice Direction 18.2] in their entirety, with effect from 1 February 2001. To assist litigants and practitioners in understanding and complying with the provisions of this Practice Direction, a Guidance Note is issued with and annexed to this Practice Direction. 1. The Personal Injuries List 1.1 With effect from 15 April 1996, all actions in which a claim is made for damages arising out of death or personal injury, including claims arising out of alleged medical negligence, but excluding all actions within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court, should have been commenced in the Personal Injury List. Any such actions commenced before that date shall be assigned to the Personal Injury List and marked with the appropriate Personal Injury Action number e.g. H.C.P.I. 1234 of 2000. Applications to assign shall be made by letter and where consent is given such consent shall be by letter also. 1.2 The Judge in charge of the Personal Injury List shall be known as the Personal Injury Judge. Pursuant to Order 72 Rule 2(3) of the Rules of the High Court, the Personal Injury Judge hereby directs that, unless otherwise stated herein or unless otherwise ordered, Masters may continue to hear interlocutory applications in cases in the Personal Injury List. 1.3 An action claiming damages arising out of death or personal injury in the Admiralty List may be assigned to the Personal Injury List if the Admiralty Judge so directs. 1.4 The Directions contained herein shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to actions commenced in the District Court. 2. Letter before action 2.1 Prior to the commencement of proceedings, the claimant should send to the proposed defendant(s) two copies of a letter of claim which should follow the format of the specimen letter at Annex A. This format can be amended to suit the particular case. Where the identity of the insurer(s) concerned is known or can be ascertained a copy of the said letter should be sent to it/them in addition. If the claimant's Solicitors are in possession of any medical reports from the Government Hospitals these should be disclosed with the letter of claim. 2.2 In the event of a claimant failing to send such a letter, or failing to send a letter which contains information enabling a defendant's Solicitor or insurer to commence investigations and thereby evaluate the merits ofthe claim, the claimant and/or his Solicitor may be required to justify the incurring of costs of commencing proceedings and/or ofany expenditure incurred which is argued to be premature. 2.3 The said letters should be sent no later than 4 months prior to the commencement of proceedings, and the defendants or insurers should reply constructively thereto within one month. A simple acknowledgement is not a constructive reply. If there is no such reply the claimant will be entitled to commence proceeding

FAQs

When should actions for personal injury or death be commenced in the Personal Injuries List?

Actions claiming damages arising out of death or personal injury should be commenced in the Personal Injury List from 15 April 1996, with any earlier actions assigned to the list and marked with the appropriate personal injury action number.

What is required in the letter before action?

Before proceedings, the claimant should send proposed defendants two copies of a letter of claim following the specimen format in Annex A, amendable to the case, and disclose relevant medical reports from Government Hospitals if held by the claimant’s solicitors.

What happens if no constructive reply is received after the letter of claim?

If the defendant or insurer does not reply constructively within one month (and there is no such reply), the claimant may commence proceedings forthwith without risk as to costs.

Sep 16, 2026

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