Ang Siam Hua v Teo Cheng Hoe: Road Accident, Personal Injury, and Damages Assessment
In Ang Siam Hua v Teo Cheng Hoe, the Singapore High Court assessed damages for the plaintiff, Ang Siam Hua, who sustained serious injuries in a road traffic accident caused by the defendant, Teo Cheng Hoe. The court, presided over by Assistant Registrar Ho Su Ching, awarded damages for pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, pre-trial loss of earnings, future medical costs, and other special damages, totaling $344,632.73.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for the Plaintiff; damages awarded.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
High Court judgment for Ang Siam Hua v Teo Cheng Hoe regarding damages for injuries sustained in a road accident. The court assessed general and special damages.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ang Siam Hua | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | |
| Teo Cheng Hoe | Defendant | Individual | Judgment against Defendant | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Ho Su Ching | Assistant Registrar | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Willy Tay B C | Ari Goh and Partners |
| Wee Jee Kin | Bogaars and Din |
4. Facts
- The plaintiff sustained multiple serious injuries in a road traffic accident on 4 August 2001.
- The plaintiff was in a coma for 16 days and required intensive care treatment.
- The plaintiff underwent a splenectomy, open reduction and internal fixation of the right femur, and a tracheotomy.
- The plaintiff suffered a head injury, fractures, and other injuries as a result of the accident.
- The plaintiff developed post-traumatic epilepsy.
- The plaintiff was a taxi driver at the time of the accident but could not continue working due to his injuries.
5. Formal Citations
- Ang Siam Hua v Teo Cheng Hoe, Suit 296/2003, NA 18/2004, [2004] SGHC 147
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Road traffic accident occurred | |
| Plaintiff underwent laparotomy and splenectomy | |
| Open reduction and internal fixation of the right femur performed | |
| Plaintiff required a tracheotomy | |
| Plaintiff discharged from hospital | |
| Plaintiff underwent neuropsychological test | |
| Plaintiff suffered from post-traumatic epilepsy | |
| Interlocutory judgment entered against the defendant | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury
- Outcome: The court assessed and awarded damages for various injuries and losses.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Quantum of damages for head injury
- Quantum of damages for fractures
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pre-trial loss of earnings
- Future medical costs
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
- Personal Injury
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Motor Accident Claims
11. Industries
- Transportation
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peh Diana & Anor v Tan Miang Lee | High Court | Yes | [1991] SLR 341 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a severe head injury, but the award was reduced on appeal. |
| Chua Seng Lee v Ang Teow Koon & Anor | High Court | Yes | Suit No. 2103/1996 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a crushed brain and multiple fractures. |
| Chua Ping Ping (an infant) suing by her father and next friend Chua Khoon Seng v Kay Pai Seng & Anor | High Court | Yes | Suit 47/1996 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a head injury with epileptic fits and mental slowness. |
| Udaiayappan Subramaniam v Vermiculite Industries Pte Ltd | District Court | Yes | Suit No. 1534/1998 | Singapore | Cited as guidance for awarding a global sum for fractured pelvis and right femur. |
| Samsurin bin Ja’afar v Ham Kow Teck | District Court | Yes | DC Suit 4944/1997 | Singapore | Cited as guidance for awarding a global sum for fractured pelvis and right femur. |
| Tan Guat Whye v SBS | District Court | Yes | Suit No. 1936/1997 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a ruptured spleen. |
| Raveendran v Chong Siew Foo | High Court | Yes | Suit No. 2123 of 1986 | Singapore | Cited for viewing pneumonia from the perspective of a lesser lung condition. |
| Seow Seet Lye v Ho Kian Min | Magistrate Court | Yes | MC Suit No. 9504 of 1996 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a tracheotomy scar. |
| Mohd bin Sutyrisno v Shariff bin Mohd Yasin | District Court | Yes | DC Suit 2145 of 1996 | Singapore | Cited for the award amount for a surgical scar with keloid formation. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Road traffic accident
- Personal injury
- Damages assessment
- Head injury
- Fractures
- Loss of earning capacity
- Post-traumatic epilepsy
- Splenectomy
- Tracheotomy
- Malunion
15.2 Keywords
- Road accident
- Personal injury
- Damages
- Singapore
- High Court
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 95 |
| Automobile Accidents | 80 |
| Assessment of Damages | 75 |
| Road Traffic Accident Compensation | 70 |
| Measure of Damages | 60 |
| Civil Procedure | 40 |
| Evidence | 30 |
| Medical Negligence | 25 |
16. Subjects
- Personal Injury
- Damages
- Road Accidents