Beyond the Blame: The Evolution of Negligence Claims in Australian Courts
Throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, Australian states and territories have introduced various reforms to address the complexity and fairness of negligence claims. The most significant of these came in the early 2000s following the insurance crisis that saw premiums skyrocket due to a surge in claims and payouts. In response, legislatures enacted tort reform laws such as the Civil Liability Act 2002 in New South Wales and similar statutes in other jurisdictions. These laws were designed to balance the rights of plaintiffs to seek compensation with the need to prevent excessive insurance costs and to promote personal responsibility.