Singapore

I was partially at fault for my injury. Can I still claim?

s. 3
Civil Law Act
1999 Rev Ed
Revised Edition
Cap. 43
Statute Cap.
proportionally
Reduction method
The Short Answer

Yes, you can still claim compensation in Singapore even if you were partially at fault — your damages will be reduced by the percentage of your own fault.

What the Law Says

Singapore law allows injured people to recover compensation even when they share some responsibility for the harm — but their award is reduced to reflect their degree of fault.

Under Singapore’s Civil Law Act, if you are partly responsible for your own injury, you are not completely barred from claiming compensation. Instead, the court will assess how much fault lies with you versus the other party (or parties), and reduce your damages accordingly.

This is known as 'contributory negligence'. It applies in personal injury claims arising from accidents, negligence, or breach of statutory duty — as long as the injury was caused partly by your own failure to take reasonable care for your own safety.

Statutory Text

Where any person suffers damage as the result of a wrongful act, neglect or default of another person, and the said person's own wrongful act, neglect or default has contributed to the damage suffered by him, the damages recoverable in respect thereof shall be reduced to such extent as the court thinks just and equitable having regard to the claimant's share in the responsibility for the damage.

— Civil Law Act, s. 3 — Contributory negligence

What to Do

1

Gather evidence showing how the other party’s actions caused or contributed to your injury (e.g., photos, witness statements, medical reports).

2

Preserve any evidence that may show your own conduct — be honest about it, as courts will assess your share of fault objectively.

3

Consult a Singapore lawyer early to evaluate liability, estimate fault percentages, and advise on settlement or court options.

4

File your claim within the limitation period — generally 3 years from the date of injury under the Limitation Act.

Sources

statuteCivil Law Act, s. 3 — Contributory negligence

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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.