Cyclist Gino Ernest Ng was involved in a collision with motorcyclist Ang Eng Peng on Nicoll Highway in September 2021, which left Ng with a spinal fracture and abrasions on his right knee and forearm [1, 2, 3, 4]. Ng was on hospitalisation leave from September 4 to November 30, 2021, due to the injuries sustained [1, 2, 3, 4].
Ng sued Ang Eng Peng seeking over $500,000 in damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of future earnings as a physiotherapist [1, 2, 3, 4]. Medical experts gave conflicting testimony: Ng's expert said the spinal fracture would cause chronic discomfort affecting his working hours, while Ang's expert stated the fracture had healed well without significant impairment [1, 2, 3, 4].
Ng returned to work at his physiotherapy clinic in December 2021, where he is both director and 50% shareholder [1, 2, 3, 4]. In 2022, the clinic's revenue dropped, and staff numbers fell from 7 to between 3 and 4 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Ng attributed about half of the revenue loss to his reduced working hours caused by the injury [1, 2, 3, 4]. However, Deputy Registrar Sim Mei Ling found the revenue decline was mainly due to external business factors, including the establishment of a competing clinic by a former physiotherapist who took clients and staffing reductions at Ng's clinic [1, 2, 3, 4].
Ng treated more patients monthly and charged higher fees in 2023 and 2024 than before the accident, undermining his claims for ongoing loss of earnings [1, 2, 3, 4].
On May 25, 2023, Deputy Registrar Sim Mei Ling awarded Ng approximately $55,769 in compensation covering pain and suffering, medical expenses, and damage related to the accident, but rejected claims for future loss of earnings as speculative and unproven [1, 2, 3, 4]. She stated, "Fundamentally, the claim for pre-trial loss of earnings fails because the claimant has not proven what his personal loss is. Even if I accept that (the clinic) suffered a loss of revenue, this would be (the clinic’s) loss, and not the claimant’s" [1].
