Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Grievous bodily harm definition

What does Grievous bodily harm mean? In practice, grievous bodily harm (GBH) describes really serious injury. In England & Wales and Northern Ireland it underpins offences in the Offences Against the Person Act 1861: section 20 (maliciously wounding or inflicting GBH) and section 18 (wounding or causing GBH with intent). A “wound” is a break in both layers of the skin; GBH means really serious harm and, per case law, can include severe psychiatric injury and transmission of serious disease. A weapon is not required. “Maliciously” denotes intention or recklessness as to some harm for section 20, while section 18 requires intent to cause GBH...

Dangerous Driving and Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving: Elements, Examples, Defences, Careless Alternative, Sentencing and Disqualification (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

For thorough guidance on dangerous driving where a death occurs, see Practice Note: Death by dangerous driving.

The offence of dangerous driving, contrary to section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988), can be tried in the Crown Court or in the magistrates’ court.

Elements of the dangerous driving offence

To be guilty of the offence, a person must satisfy the following:

drive
a mechanically propelled vehicle
on a road or another public place
in a dangerous manner

Causing injury by dangerous driving

RTA 1988, s 1A, outlaws the offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. It is an either way offence. Its ingredients mirror those for dangerous driving, with the further requirement that the driving results in serious injury. Serious injury means physical harm amounting to grievous bodily harm for the purposes of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

‘Driving’ for these purposes

A person is regarded as driving where, when the vehicle is in motion, it is under their control and direction and guidance at that time alone...

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Alex McHugh

Pump Court Chambers

Alex McHugh joined Pump Court Chambers following successful completion of his pupillage. His key areas of practice are criminal defence, family, and landlord & tenant disputes. Prior to joining Chambers, Alex worked as a paralegal for a number of years at a Legal 500 firm in London. Two of those years were spent in crime under the stewardship of extremely experienced senior partners. Alex helped manage cases from beginning to end and represented all manner of clients in respect of a full range of alleged offences. As counsel, Alex defends his clients throughout every stage of proceedings. Alex accepts private and, where applicable, publicly funded briefs on road traffic offences, and has experience in representing clients in relation to speeding, drinking driving, “totting up”, and causing injury by dangerous driving offences. Alex predominantly works across the Western Circuit, London, and the South East. ...

Web page updated on 28/05/2026

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