Lau Keuk Ling v Chan Chun Sheng: Damages Assessment for Personal Injuries

In Suit No 853 of 2018, Lau Keuk Ling William Ignatius sued Chan Chun Sheng Gary in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore, arising from a car accident on 14 February 2017. Interlocutory judgment was granted in favor of Lau Keuk Ling on 11 July 2019, with damages to be assessed. The court, presided over by Senior Judge Lai Siu Chiu, assessed damages and awarded Lau Keuk Ling $242,578.64, significantly less than the claimed $3,313,294.04. The claim was for personal injuries sustained in the accident.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court

1.2 Outcome

Judgment for Plaintiff; damages awarded in the amount of $242,578.64

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Assessment of damages for personal injuries sustained in a car accident. The court awarded $242,578.64, significantly less than the claimed $3,313,294.04.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Lau Keuk Ling William IgnatiusPlaintiffIndividualJudgment for PlaintiffWon
Chan Chun Sheng GaryDefendantIndividualClaim partially successfulLost
NTUC Income Cooperative LimitedOtherCorporationClaim partially successfulLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lai Siu ChiuSenior JudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Han Hean JuanHoh Law Corporation
Lu Zhao Bo YuHoh Law Corporation
Yeo Kim Hai PatrickLegal Solutions LLC
Ooi Jing YuHuang Jingyu

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff was driving his car when the defendant collided into the rear of his car.
  2. The plaintiff sustained injuries to his neck and head, including a right frontal subarachnoid haemorrhage.
  3. The plaintiff was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome resulting in mild cognitive impairment.
  4. The plaintiff consulted multiple medical specialists and was prescribed various painkilling medications.
  5. The plaintiff was a Grab driver at the time of the accident and continued to work as a Grab driver after the accident.
  6. The plaintiff's taxi driver's vocational license expired and was not renewed.
  7. The plaintiff claimed a total of $3,313,294.04 in general and special damages.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Lau Keuk Ling William Ignatius v Chan Chun Sheng Gary, Suit No 853 of 2018, [2021] SGHC 184

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Road accident occurred
NTUC Income repudiated liability under the defendant’s insurance policy
NTUC Income joined the suit as interveners
Interlocutory judgment based on 100% liability against the defendant was granted in his favour
Assessment for damages hearing began
Assessment for damages hearing concluded
Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

  1. Assessment of Damages for Personal Injuries
    • Outcome: The court assessed damages for pain and suffering, traumatic brain injury, psychiatric conditions, loss of earning capacity, and future medical expenses, awarding a total of $242,578.64.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Pain and Suffering
      • Traumatic Brain Injury
      • Psychiatric Conditions
      • Loss of Earning Capacity
      • Future Medical Expenses
  2. Pre-Trial Loss of Earnings
    • Outcome: The court awarded $13,020 for pre-trial loss of earnings based on the plaintiff's income as a Grab driver.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Loss of Future Earnings
    • Outcome: The court awarded $50,000 for loss of future earnings, considering the plaintiff's age and employment history.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Causation of Psychiatric Conditions
    • Outcome: The court found that the plaintiff suffered from major depressive disorder (MDD) but not treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and awarded $45,000 for psychiatric conditions.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Monetary Damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Negligence

10. Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury Litigation

11. Industries

  • Transportation
  • Insurance

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Lua Bee Kiang (administrator of the estate of Chew Kong Seng, deceased) v Yeo Chee SiongCourt of AppealYes[2019] 1 SLR 145SingaporeCited regarding factors to be considered in determining the multiplier to be applied when assessing damages for loss of earnings.
Quek Yen Fei Kenneth v Yeo Chye HuatN/AYes[2016] 3 SLR 1106SingaporeCited as a case example, but the court found that the findings therein were specific to the facts in that case.
Quek Yen Fei Kenneth (by his litigation representative Pang Choy Chun) v Yeo Chye Huat and another appealN/AYes[2017] 2 SLR 229SingaporeCited as a case example, but the court found that the findings therein were specific to the facts in that case.
Zaiton Bee Bee bte Abdul Majeed v Chan Poh TeongN/AYes[2010] 3 SLR 697SingaporeCited as a case example, but the court found that the findings therein were specific to the facts in that case.
Chai Kang Wei Samuel v Shaw Linda GillianCourt of AppealYes[2010] 3 SLR 587SingaporeCited for the principle that an award for loss of future earnings compensates a victim for a real and assessable drop in income as provable through evidence consequent to injuries and disabilities suffered.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) ActSingapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Post-concussion syndrome
  • Mild traumatic brain injury
  • Whiplash injury
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Future medical expenses
  • Grab driver
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Treatment Resistant Depression

15.2 Keywords

  • Personal injury
  • Damages assessment
  • Car accident
  • Negligence
  • Singapore
  • High Court
  • Medical expenses
  • Loss of earnings

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Personal Injury90
Measure of Damages90
Damages Assessment90
Automobile Accidents70
Road Traffic Accidents60
Civil Litigation50
Civil Practice50

16. Subjects

  • Personal Injury
  • Damages
  • Motor Vehicle Accident