Li Jianlin v Asnah bte AB Rahman: Negligence, Pedestrian Safety, and Road Traffic Accident
In Li Jianlin v Asnah bte AB Rahman, the High Court of Singapore heard a case regarding a road traffic accident. The plaintiff, Li Jianlin, was hit by a taxi driven by the defendant, Asnah bte AB Rahman, while crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing with the lights in his favor. The court, presided over by Justice Choo Han Teck, found the defendant negligent and ruled in favor of the plaintiff, determining that the defendant's negligence was the sole cause of the accident. The court rejected the defendant's argument of contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for the plaintiff.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment Reserved
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
The High Court found the defendant taxi driver liable for negligence in a road accident, causing injury to the plaintiff pedestrian. The court rejected contributory negligence.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li Jianlin | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for the plaintiff | Won | Eric Liew Hwee Tong, Rebecca Chia Wei Lin |
| Asnah bte AB Rahman | Defendant | Individual | Judgment against the defendant | Lost | Anthony Wee |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | J | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Eric Liew Hwee Tong | Gabriel Law Corporation |
| Rebecca Chia Wei Lin | Gabriel Law Corporation |
| Anthony Wee | United Legal Alliance LLC |
4. Facts
- The plaintiff was crossing Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 at a pedestrian crossing with the lights in his favour.
- The defendant's taxi hit the plaintiff while he was two or three steps into the right lane.
- The defendant driver pleaded guilty to a charge under s 64(1) of the Road Traffic Act for dangerous driving.
- The impact of the collision was caused by the front right side of the taxi.
- The plaintiff suffered injuries to his head and hips, including fractures.
5. Formal Citations
- Li Jianlin v Asnah bte AB Rahman, Suit No 720 of 2013, [2014] SGHC 198
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff knocked down by taxi | |
| Suit filed | |
| Judgment Reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Negligence
- Outcome: The court found the defendant negligent.
- Category: Substantive
- Contributory Negligence
- Outcome: The court found that the plaintiff had not contributed to the accident.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
11. Industries
- Transportation
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell v Phillips | N/A | Yes | [1972] 3 All ER 864 | N/A | Cited to show that pedestrians are not legally required to wear high visibility clothing. |
| Probert v Moore | N/A | Yes | [2012] EWHC 2324 | N/A | Cited to show that pedestrians are not legally required to wear high visibility clothing. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| Highway Code (Cap 276, R 11, 1990 Rev Ed) Rule 8 |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Road Traffic Act (Cap 276, 2004 Rev Ed) s 64(1) | Singapore |
| Evidence Act (Cap 97, 1997 Rev Ed) s 45A | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Pedestrian crossing
- Contributory negligence
- Road traffic accident
- Dangerous driving
- Traffic lights
15.2 Keywords
- negligence
- road accident
- pedestrian
- traffic
- Singapore
16. Subjects
- Road Accidents
- Personal Injury
- Negligence
17. Areas of Law
- Tort Law
- Negligence
- Road Traffic Law