I was a passenger injured in a taxi accident. Who compensates?

What the Law Says

The law in Singapore ensures that passengers injured in motor vehicle accidents — including taxis — receive compensation without needing to prove fault, as long as the vehicle was insured.

Under Singapore law, every motor vehicle used on public roads must have valid third-party motor insurance. This includes taxis. The purpose is to protect innocent victims — especially passengers — who suffer injury or death in accidents.

Section 9 of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act makes it compulsory for insurers to pay compensation to passengers injured in accidents involving insured vehicles — regardless of who caused the accident. This means even if the taxi driver was not at fault, or if another vehicle caused the crash, the passenger’s claim is still covered by the taxi’s insurance.

The law applies to all passengers — paying or non-paying — and covers bodily injury or death resulting from the use of the vehicle on a road.

Statutory Text

Every contract of insurance against third-party risks shall provide that the insurer shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, pay to the person entitled to the benefit of the judgment any sum awarded by a court in respect of any liability which is required to be covered by such insurance.

— Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act, s. 9 — Liability of insurer

What to Do

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