A major overhaul of personal injury litigation procedures in Northern Ireland has been announced by the Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan. Practice Direction No. 4 of 2026, which takes effect on 13 October 2026, replaces the 2008 Practice Direction and Pre-Action Protocol for personal injury litigation.

The new Practice Direction applies to all personal injury and damage only civil litigation actions in the King's Bench Division of the High Court. It sets out detailed requirements for letters of claim and response, early disclosure, rehabilitation, alternative dispute resolution, expert evidence, and case management.

The direction emphasises the "overriding objective" of the Rules of the Court of Judicature, which requires cases to be dealt with justly, proportionately, and expeditiously. It encourages early communication and a "cards on the table" approach to encourage settlement before proceedings are issued.

Under the new rules, a claimant must send a detailed letter of claim as soon as sufficient information is available. The defendant must acknowledge the letter within 21 days and, in most cases, complete investigations within three months. The letter of claim must include specific information about the accident, injuries, financial losses, and, where relevant, vehicle damage and repair details.

Parties are encouraged to consider rehabilitation at an early stage and to explore alternative dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and early neutral evaluation. The courts may require evidence that such alternatives were considered.

Expert evidence remains a key feature, with guidance on instruction, independence, and exchange. The direction also provides for meetings of experts to narrow issues and prepare Scott schedules. Standstill agreements are encouraged where limitation periods are an issue.

The direction includes detailed provisions for case management, including first reviews before the Master nine months after the memorandum of appearance, pre-trial reviews, and penalties for non-compliance. It also addresses litigants in person, providing a glossary of terms and referring to additional support resources.

Appendices include templates for a letter of claim, letter of instruction to an expert, standstill agreement, and model directions. The Practice Direction revokes Practice Direction 01/2008 and the 2008 Pre-Action Protocol.