Dulieu v White & Sons [1901] 2 KB 669 A Case Summary 

What are the facts of the case?

The defendant’s servant unintentionally drove a pair-horse van  into a pub. The plaintiff, who was pregnant at the time, was in the pub that the defendant’s servant drove the pair-horse van into. She suffered nervous shock and subsequently gave birth to a premature and disabled baby. 

In the High Court’s King’s Bench, the court had to decide the following:

1. Was the driver negligent?

If the driver had been negligent, did his negligence cause the plaintiff nervous shock which led to further bodily injury?