Head & brain claim values
in Singapore.

• WICA medical expense cap
  Workplace injuries claimed under WICA
  S$45,000 + S$36,000 outpatient

  Statutory caps on medical and outpatient expenses.

• WICA permanent incapacity cap
  WICA permanent incapacity claims
  S$289,000 maximum

  Calculated against statutory ceiling depending on age and incapacity percentage.

• WICA death cap
  WICA fatal claims
  S$225,000 maximum

  Statutory benefit ceiling.

1. 1
   Pre-action protocol

   Letter of demand setting out liability and quantum, supported by medical reports.

2. 2
   WICA route (workplace)

   Claim filed with the Ministry of Manpower; structured compensation calculated against WICA tables.

3. 3
   Court proceedings

   If WICA route not taken or not applicable, claim filed in the Magistrate's Court (≤S$60,000), District Court (S$60,000 to 250,000), or High Court for higher value.

4. 4
   Discovery

   Document discovery and interrogatories under the Rules of Court 2021.

5. 5
   Mediation

   Court-encouraged mediation through the Singapore Mediation Centre or the State Courts Mediation Centre.

6. 6
   Trial

   Bench trial; appellate review through Appellate Division and Court of Appeal.

A police Senior Staff Sergeant, almost 32, riding pillion on the Central Expressway in 2016, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury; the High Court awarded S$236,000 for pain and suffering and S$1,961,016 for lost future earnings. A pedestrian knocked down in 2019, bedridden and needing a craniectomy, was awarded S$218,000 for pain and suffering; the court criticised the insurer’s conduct of the defence.

• Rajina Sharma d/o Rajandran v Theyvasigamani s/o Periasamy
  High Court · 2024
  S$236,000 pain and suffering

  On 2 November 2016 the plaintiff, a Senior Staff Sergeant in the Singapore Police Force almost 32 years old, was riding pillion on her husband’s motorcycle on the Central Expressway when he braked to avoid a motorcycle that had skidded ahead, and she was flung off. She suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and sued through a litigation representative. The court awarded S$236,000 for pain and suffering and S$1,961,016 for loss of future earnings, and considered a further discount to actuarial awards.

• Ko Wei Ze Jonathan (administrator of the estate of Ko Wah) v Samikannu Manickavasakar
  State Courts · 2025
  S$218,000 general damages

  Mr Ko was knocked down on 21 June 2019 and suffered brain injuries requiring a decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty; he was bedridden and fully dependent for more than five years and died on 2 October 2024. The court awarded S$210,000 for the head injury and S$8,000 for loss of amenities, and criticised the insurer, NTUC Income, for resisting uncontroversial claims.

• How much is a head & brain claim worth in Singapore?

  The band table on this page shows head & brain values in Singapore by severity. The most severe matching band is S$300,000 to S$1,000,000+, a MyClaimWorth estimate. The exact figure within the band depends on severity, prognosis, recovery time, the medical paper trail, and any percentage of fault attributed to the claimant under Singapore's comparative-fault rule.
• What is the statute of limitations for head & brain claims in Singapore?

  3 years from date of injury or knowledge. Source: Limitation Act 1959, ss 6, 24A. Time runs from the later of the date of injury and the date of knowledge.
• Does fault allocation reduce a head & brain settlement in Singapore?

  Civil Law Act s 3. No bar threshold. Reductions are calculated as a percentage of the total damages award before any cap is applied.
• Are there caps on head & brain damages in Singapore?

  Yes — Singapore applies the following caps that bear on head & brain claims: WICA medical expense cap; WICA permanent incapacity cap; WICA death cap. See the caps section on this page for the figures and the conditions under which each applies.
• How long does a Singapore head & brain case take to resolve?

  Soft-tissue presentations commonly resolve within 6 to 12 months from medical stability. Complex cases with surgery or contested liability routinely take 18 to 36 months. Cases that proceed to trial commonly take 2 to 5 years. The procedural pathway on this page sets out the typical milestones in Singapore.
• Is settlement preferable to trial for a head & brain claim in Singapore?

  For most Singapore head & brain claimants, yes. The vast majority of personal-injury cases settle before trial. Settlement provides certainty, removes appeal risk, and resolves faster. Trial is appropriate where liability is genuinely contested or where the defendant's insurer is unrealistic about quantum given the published authority.