Tan v Loh: Negligence, Traffic Light Dispute, and Motor Vehicle Accident
In Bernice Amelia Tan v Loh Chee Song, the High Court of Singapore heard a case regarding a motor vehicle accident at the junction of East Coast Road and Still Road. Bernice Amelia Tan, the plaintiff, sought compensation from Loh Chee Song, the defendant, for injuries sustained in the accident. The court, presided over by Justice Judith Prakash, found the defendant wholly liable for the accident, accepting the plaintiff's version of events and rejecting the defendant's account of the traffic lights. The plaintiff's claim was therefore successful.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiff
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
High Court case involving a motorcycle accident at a traffic junction. The court found the defendant liable for negligence, rejecting his claim about the traffic lights.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernice Amelia Tan | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | |
| Loh Chee Song | Defendant | Individual | Judgment against Defendant | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Judith Prakash | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Foo Yuk Lin | Foo Chia Partnership |
| Ganesh Ramanathan | Hilborne & Company |
| Colin Kang | Hilborne & Company |
4. Facts
- Plaintiff was riding her motorcycle along East Coast Road.
- Defendant was driving a pick-up truck in the opposite direction.
- The accident occurred at the junction of East Coast Road and Still Road.
- Plaintiff claimed the traffic light was green in her favor.
- Defendant claimed the green arrow was on for him to turn right.
- The front right side of the pick-up collided with the right side of the motorcycle.
- Defendant pleaded guilty to inconsiderate driving.
5. Formal Citations
- Bernice Amelia Tan v Loh Chee Song, Suit 46/2000C, [2000] SGHC 197
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Collision between plaintiff's motorcycle and defendant's pick-up | |
| Defendant pleaded guilty to inconsiderate driving and was fined and disqualified from driving | |
| Amended defence filed asserting red light against the plaintiff | |
| Judgment issued in favor of the plaintiff |
7. Legal Issues
- Negligence
- Outcome: The court found the defendant negligent and wholly liable for the accident.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Failure to give way at traffic junction
- Breach of duty of care
- Causation of injury
8. Remedies Sought
- Compensation for injuries
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Law
- Civil Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Road Traffic Act (Cap 276) s 65 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Traffic light
- Right of way
- Inconsiderate driving
- Collision
- Junction
- Negligence
- Motorcycle
- Pick-up
15.2 Keywords
- Motorcycle accident
- Traffic light dispute
- Negligence
- Personal injury
- Singapore High Court
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Automobile Accidents | 90 |
| Personal Injury | 70 |
| Road Traffic Act | 60 |
| Negligence | 50 |
| Evidence | 30 |
16. Subjects
- Motor Vehicle Accident
- Negligence
- Personal Injury