A 21-year-old went from a young adult who was active in sports to a handicapped individual who can't stand or walk for long periods after he lost his right leg in an accident involving a taxi two years ago.
According to a report on The New Paper, Kenneth Quek Yen Fei, a full-time national serviceman (NSF) then, was riding home on the four-lane Bencoolen Street in Aug 2011 when a taxi swerved into his path and hit the right side of his motorcycle.
The impact of the crash flung him off the motorcycle, severely injuring his leg to the point that it had to be amputated.
Earlier this year, a High Court ruled that the cabby, who had already pleaded guilty to inconsiderate driving, was 100 percent liable for the accident. The court will rule how much compensation Mr Quek will get for the accident in six months time.
However, this is scant consolation for Quek, who completed his national service last year. After the accident, his girlfriend broke up with him; companies didn't want to hire him because of his injuries, leaving his sales-promoter mother to work overtime just to settle the medical bills.
He said: "She works overtime almost everyday...and even borrows money so that I am taken care of.
"And I can't do anything about the situation unless I am able to secure a job and help chip in the medical cost."
Mr Quek's lawyer has also put in a claim for future loss of earnings and medical care. While the figure is unstated in court papers, it is understood that the sum can go up to $500,000.
