Book excerpt: This is the standard reference work for general damages in personal injury claims, and essential reading for all those involved in the area of personal injury. The Guidelines are designed to provide a clear and logical framework for the assessment of general damages while leaving the discretion of the assessor unfettered, since every case must depend to a degree on its own facts. They provide an invaluable guide to all those involved in personal injury litigation. As with previous editions, all judges involved in hearing personal injury cases will automatically receive a copy of the book. This eleventh edition has been fully updated to take account of inflation and decisions made in the two years since the previous edition and includes a foreword written by The Right Honourable Dame Janet Smith DBE.