KLANG: A woman was awarded RM7.1 million by the Sessions Court today in a lawsuit filed against the insurance company of a motorcyclist for injuries she sustained after being crushed by a lorry 10 years ago.
Judge Zarifah Zainal Abidin awarded M Saranya RM6.9 million for the purchase, periodic replacement, and maintenance of an electronic orthotic arm, plus RM215,000 for the pain and suffering she experienced, after proving her case on a balance of probabilities.
According to FMT, Saranya's injury, known as 'brachial plexus', has rendered her unable to use her left arm. Since the accident, she has been unable to perform simple tasks requiring the use of both hands and has largely depended on her mother, R Naga Chittra, for her daily needs.
Her lawyer argued that the woman cannot live a normal life and has experienced trauma since the accident, causing her to fear getting into cars.
The prosthetic device, MyoPro 2, could help Saranya lead a nearly normal life without relying on others, her lawyer said.
On Aug 5, 2014, Saranya, who was then 12 years old, was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her father, N Mahendran, after being picked up from school.
Another motorcycle collided with their vehicle from behind on Persiaran Hamzah Alang, Kapar, Klang, resulting in the death of its rider, Shazrin Hassan.
The collision caused Mahendran and Saranya to be thrown onto the road in the path of a lorry, which crushed both of them.
Mahendran was killed, while Saranya suffered head injuries and had her arm crushed.
Saranya, through her mother, sued the lorry driver and Shazrin's parties in 2018. The lorry driver's insurance provider had previously paid an undisclosed amount to Saranya in a consent judgment.
Lawyers GK Ganesan and RS Kameswary represented Saranya, while Vinod Kamalanathan acted on behalf of Shazrin's insurance company.