A Singaporean victim of a road traffic accident in Malaysia is awarded substantial compensation for lifelong care.
A Singaporean man, Mr. Lim Chun Yong, who suffered severe brain damage and lost his mental capacity in a car accident in Malaysia six years ago, was awarded $4.75 million in compensation by Singapore’s High Court. This may be one of the highest compensation sums for a Singaporean road accident victim in Malaysia.
The accident, which occurred on February 12, 2018, involved a chain collision between a semi-trailer, a Toyota Innova (in which Mr. Lim was a passenger), and a BMW X3 on a highway near Johor. Mr. Lim, who was 38 at the time, was knocked unconscious and severely injured, requiring immediate hospitalization. Now 44, he remains in need of full-time care due to permanent brain damage.
His wife, Madam Janet Fung, initially cared for him at home but eventually had to admit him to a nursing home after struggling with caregiver burnout. She filed a lawsuit against six defendants, including the drivers and owners of the vehicles involved. After a 12-day High Court trial, the judge found the drivers of the semi-trailer, Toyota Innova, and BMW X3 all partly responsible for the accident.
The court awarded Mr. Lim more than $4.7 million in damages, including $1.87 million for the cost of his permanent care at the nursing home. Additionally, nearly $1.6 million was awarded for the loss of future earnings, as Mr. Lim, who held a finance degree, was unlikely to ever return to work.
This case highlights the possibility of pursuing legal action in Singapore even when the accident occurred in another country, as the court assessed the case based on the merits, as the pretrial and future losses were primarily incurred in Singapore. The defendants are appealing the ruling.
