Car driver who caused bus to brake abruptly, injuring passenger, ordered to pay S$78,000

A public bus that was flung to the ground by a gentleman in Singapore injured its lower back, neck, and shoulder when it cut into its lanes.

According to a judgment made on Wednesday ( Nov 13 ), he sued the car’s driver for negligence and received damages of S$ 78, 444 ( US$ 58, 600 ).

The claim, Mr Tan Yu Hong, was on the vehicle in September 2019 when the car drivers, Mr Lek Meng Peau, immediately encroached into the street of the vehicle.

The bus vehicle braked unexpectedly, causing Mr Tan to be flung to the ground. &nbsp,

Mr Tan suffered wounds to his lower back, thoracic back and left shoulder. After receiving treatment, his back and neck pain subsided, but his left shoulder pain persisted.

He had a paralabral cyst, swelling in the shoulder joint socket, and a break in the tissues around the shoulder socket.

Mr. Tan finally brought a lawsuit against Mr. Lek for losses in money and future medical expenses resulting from his shoulder surgery.

Both sides agreed before the trial started on a number of problems, including the fact that Mr. Lek had breached his duty of care and was essentially to blame for the crash. &nbsp,

Due to the fact that Mr. Tan had deferred operation and was anxious to go through it, District Judge Samuel Wee argued that the key to the dispute was whether he should be entitled to future medical expenses related to his shoulder injury.

He was concerned about a potential negative reaction to the anesthetic because he had experienced poor results from various treatments related to the accident and was unable to move the muscles below his throat.

If Mr. Tan had back surgery and his condition would increase, he would have requested S$ 105,500 for future medical expenses.

Mr Lek’s attorneys argued that Mr Tan should not be awarded the total for future medical costs, because of the “low chance” that he would have the surgery.

Both men’s health professionals agreed that Mr. Tan’s present condition was sufficient for surgery, but that it could also be postponed while opting for a more conservative approach to monitoring his shoulder cyst’s size and growth through regular MRI scans.

According to Judge Wee, medical experts ‘ testimony indicated that the tumour had gotten bigger over time and continued to grow risk-of-growing. Additionally, it was possible that Mr. Tan’s remaining arm would no longer have the ability to move and feel.

Therefore, he gave S$ 45,000 for the operation because he determined that Mr. Tan’s “appreciable threat” was” an appreciable danger.”

He declined to honor a further S$ 50, 000 as” a buffer”, as requested by Mr Tan if the procedure became complicated, saying there was insufficient evidence to support this.

Mr. Tan also claimed S$ 20,000 for the surgery’s estimated four-month interval of unpaid employment.

Based on a regular salary of S$ 5, 000. Mr. Tan sought the amount on the grounds that his wounds prevented him from lifting heavy objects or” climbing cat-ladders that are too great in his work.”

Judge Wee rejected this state because Mr. Tan did not demonstrate that there was a real or large chance that he might lose his current job before his working years ended, and that his injuries had put him at a disadvantage in the open employment market.

The prosecutor calculated the total amount of damage on a 100 per cent base, including various parts, to become S$ 87, 160. Since the parties had agreed that Mr Lek was 90 per cent concerned, the number was adjusted to S$ 78, 444.

Mr Lek will also have to spend S$ 14, 000 in costs to Mr Tan.