$1.6m for cyclist who was hit by a lorry

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It was a fine Sunday morning two days after Christmas in 2009 and cycling enthusiast Michael Loke was riding alone along the three-lane Keppel Road when he was hit by a lorry.

Despite wearing a helmet, the accident caused severe brain injury and left him paralysed from the neck down.

Mr Loke also suffered multiple fractures and is completely blind from corneal scarring.

He is now bedridden, unable to stand, sit or walk, speech-impaired and has no voluntary control of his bladder, among other problems.

"Our lives have never been the same (since the accident)," said Mr Loke's wife. Madam Jannette Hoy.

"He can't swallow food - we have to puree it. He can't even drink water - we have to thicken it with gum so that he doesn't choke. His throat muscles don't work anymore."

A civil suit was launched, but midway through the trial, in February this year, the lorry driver's insurer agreed to pay Mr Loke around $1.6 million on 100 per cent liability.

Mr Loke's lawyer, Mr Cosmas Gomez, had put in a claim of about $3.5 million for future out-of-pocket expenses, excluding pre-trial expenses, which had totalled $183,113.

The bulk of it - about $1.9 million - was for the loss of future income.

This was based on the fact that Mr Loke had about 13 years of employment before he reached the retirement age of 65, and his monthly income of $12,200.

Other expenses included physiotherapy over 12 years ($129,600) and daily necessities totalling $216,000, for items such as adult diapers and wet wipes for the rest of his life.

"No amount of money can bring his health back, and happiness of our family.

"He was a humorous and generous man, and a great father. He provided for the family very well," Madam Hoy said.

Madam Hoy told TNP that her husband was a water polo player in the 70s and that if he wasn't cycling, he would be at the gym, swimming pool or golf course.

"He was doing very well in his career and was respected by the many people he had worked with.

Last July, lorry driver Muhammad Nurhakim Omar had pleaded guilty in a criminal court to inconsiderate driving. He admitted that he had collided into Mr Loke from behind.

He was fined $1,000 and banned from driving for eight months.

The civil suit started in January this year. Mr Muhammad Nurhakim, who was 21 at the time of the accident, was said to have failed to keep a proper lookout, driving at an excessive speed and too close to Mr Loke.

Midway through the trial, the lorry driver's insurance company conceded liability.

Said Madam Hoy: "It saddens me that we've not received a word of apology from the driver."