In these two appeals, which were heard together, the Court of Appeal summarised the principles to be applied in determining the basic hire rate recoverable by a claimant who could have afforded to hire a replacement car without credit terms. In Bent this resulted in the appeal being allowed and the amount awarded being increased. In Pattni it was held that a person who hired a replacement car on credit hire following a road traffic accident could not recover interest on the hire charges for the period from the end of the hire to the date when his claim was settled.
Christopher Butcher QC appeared for the appellant in both cases.
The full judgment can be found here.