Australian settles case for $1.07m
Man injured in 2011 accident had initially claimed $6.7m for loss of future earnings
An Australian man who initially sought damages of $6.7 million for a traffic accident in Orchard Road has settled the claim for $1.07 million.
Mr Jay Mitchell Smith, 31, who suffered serious head injuries in the accident, had claimed the amount for loss of future earnings and loss of earning capacity.
It was based on his contention that he would have gone on to earn "a very good salary" as a commercial pilot had it not been for the accident.
As Mr Smith had earlier accepted 30 per cent of the blame for the accident, he will receive $750,000, a 30 per cent reduction.
Mr Smith, then 25, was on holiday in Singapore on Aug 5, 2011, when he was hit by a car as he was crossing Orchard Road. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where emergency surgery was carried out to remove a part of his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by internal bleeding.
He underwent another operation in Sydney in July 2012 for titanium plates to be implanted.
Mr Smith sued the driver, Mr Abdul Rahim Mohd Akhbar, and the car owner, Resorts World Sentosa, in 2014. In his lawsuit, Mr Smith said he continues to suffer from head sweats and severe headaches when the plates heat up during summer and contract during winter.
The most painful consequence, he said, was that his childhood dream of being a pilot had been dashed. He also lost his "fallback job" as a landscaper because he is unable to work outdoors.
In July last year, the defendants accepted 70 per cent liability, while Mr Smith accepted 30 per cent.
Most of what he claimed, like pain and suffering, medical expenses and pre-trial loss of earnings, were settled at mediation. He has received $231,841 so far.
However, mediation failed to resolve the deadlock over the sum payable for loss of future earnings and loss of earning capacity.
A hearing began last week for the High Court to determine the amount.
Based on a 100 per cent liability, Mr Smith sought $6.629 million for loss of future earnings and another $100,000 for the loss of earning capacity.
However, after four days of trial, both sides agreed to settle the claim on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the defendants' lawyer, Mr K. Anparasan of Withers KhattarWong, said: "This sum reflected the disadvantage the plaintiff will face in the labour market due to his permanent disabilities arising from his severe head injuries and the loss of chance to become a commercial airline pilot."
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