Please note: Sometimes cited as 'Knightly v Jones'; it is Knightley v Johns.
Facts
After the crashed in a tunnel, a police inspector negligently sent an officer back through the tunnel against the traffic, and the officer was injured.
Issue
Did the inspector's negligence break the from the first driver?
Held
Yes. The inspector's negligence was a new cause, so the first driver was not liable for that injury.
Principle
Negligent intervention by a third party is more likely to break the chain than reasonable conduct.
Why it matters
Leading case on third-party intervention.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Knightley v Johns [1982] 1 WLR 349 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/knightley-v-johns> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.