BRITISH COLUMBIA LAW INSTITUTE · the law of evidence with regard to issues that arise after an...

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BCLIReportno.28—ReportonPost‐AccidentRemedialMeasuresDate:January2004

Thisreportexaminesthelawofevidencewithregardtoissuesthatariseafteranaccidentoccursonaperson’sproperty.Thelawnowpermitspost‐accidentremedialmeasurestobeadmittedinlitigationasevidenceofnegligence.Theconcernthatarisesisthatthelawmaycreateapowerfuldisincentivetotakethenecessarystepstoensurethatfutureaccidentsdonotoccur.Apersonmayleaveadangerousconditionunalteredinordertoavoidhavingsuchmeasuresusedasevidenceagainsttheminanongoinglitigation.AdmittingevidenceofremedialmeasuresispartofalargertrendinCanadianlawseekingboth to relax exclusionary rules and to admit asmuch relevant evidence as possible forconsideration.ThisreportexaminesthehistoricalexclusionofevidenceinBritishColum‐biaaswellthecurrentlawsofevidencerelatedtoadmittingevidenceofaremedialorpre‐cautionarymeasurestakenafteranaccident.Based on research and feedback from the Consultation Paper on Post­AccidentRemedialMeasurespublishedinApril2003,thereportrecommendsamorerestrictivetest.There‐port proposes that the Evidence Act be amended to provide that evidence of remedialmeasurestakenafteranallegedtortiousinjuryordamagewillnotbeadmissibleinatrialofthataction,unlessitisofferedtoproveafactotherthanliabilityandthathasbeendis‐putedbythedefendant.Draftlegislationisincludedinthereport.