Eduqas A-Level Law A150QS
Parliamentary and European Law Making
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
The Civil Courts and Civil Process
The Criminal Process
Legal Personnel
Access to Justice and Funding
Contract: Rules and Theory of Contract LawContract
Contract: Essential Requirements and FormationContract
Contract: Express and Implied TermsContract
Contract: Misrepresentation and Economic DuressContract
Contract: Discharge of ContractContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Tort: Rules and Theory of Tort LawTort
Tort: NegligenceTort
Tort: Occupiers' LiabilityTort
Tort: Torts Connected to LandTort
Tort: Vicarious LiabilityTort
Tort: Defences and RemediesTort
Criminal Law: Rules and TheoryCriminal
Criminal Law: General Elements of LiabilityCriminal
Criminal Law: Offences Against the PersonCriminal
Criminal Law: Property OffencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Capacity DefencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Necessity Defences and Preliminary OffencesCriminal
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights: Protection of Rights and Freedoms in the UKHuman rights
Human Rights: Convention ProvisionsHuman rights
Human Rights: Restrictions on Convention RightsHuman rights
Human Rights: EnforcementHuman rights
Human Rights: ReformHuman rights
Tort: Defences and Remedies
Volenti non fit injuria: the elements of the defence
- 3 things to know
- Components 2 and 3
Overview
Volenti non fit injuria and effect of volenti succeeding.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What must a defendant prove to establish volenti non fit injuria?
Is knowledge of the risk by itself enough for volenti?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does volenti non fit injuria mean?
Model answer
Volenti non fit injuria means that no injury is done to a person who consents. The defence is a complete answer and defeats the claim entirely.
- 2
What must a defendant prove to establish volenti non fit injuria?
Model answer
The defendant must show that the claimant knew of the precise risk. The defendant must also show that the claimant voluntarily agreed to run that risk.
- 3
Is knowledge of the risk by itself enough for volenti?
Model answer
Knowledge of a risk is not the same thing as agreement to run it. Smith v Baker and Sons [1891] held that a worker who knew stones were swung overhead had not consented.
- 4
What were the facts of Smith v Baker and Sons [1891]?
Model answer
A quarry worker was injured when a stone fell from a crane swinging rock over his head. The House of Lords rejected volenti, because working on under protest was not true agreement.
- 5
Must the claimant's agreement be express?
Model answer
Agreement may be express or implied from the claimant's conduct. An implied agreement must still show a real choice to accept the risk.
- 6
What did ICI Ltd v Shatwell [1965] decide?
Model answer
Two shot-firers ignored safety regulations and tested detonators without taking cover, injuring each other. The House of Lords allowed volenti, because they had freely agreed between themselves to run a known risk.
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