Brain
Intellectual impairment
Compensation range under the Bar Council Malaysia Revised Compendium 2018 (Circular 255/2018) — the operative judicial guideline for general damages in personal injury claims in Malaysia.
Typical range (general damages)
RM60,000 – RM180,000
- Low
- RM60,000
- Relatively minor presentation, conservative treatment, no significant residual effects.
- High
- RM180,000
- Surgery / complications and maximum loss of amenities (occupational and lifestyle impact).
What pushes toward the high: Wide band — degree of impairment, dependence on others, and prior baseline all matter.
How Malaysian courts apply this range
- The Low figure reflects a relatively minor presentation. The High already incorporates maximum loss of amenities — calculations should not push above the band-high.
- Where the claimant has multiple injuries, courts adjust for overlap — the total is not a naive sum of each head.
- Brain injury rule: when multiple neurological disabilities arise from one brain injury, the Compendium directs a single global award rather than a sum across heads.
- Special damages (medical bills, loss of earnings, future care) are separate from the general damages range above.
See methodology for how Rawyer models severity, loss of amenities, and overlap.
Other Brain injuries
- Cerebral concussion / loss of consciousnessRM6,000+
- Subdural haematoma with burr-hole craniotomyRM18,000–RM30,000
- Mild personality / behavioural changesRM24,000–RM48,500
- Memory impairmentRM24,000–RM55,000
- Motor impairment (paralysis on one side of body) / hemiplegiaRM48,000–RM80,000
- Bedridden state with awarenessRM300,000–RM420,000
- Persistent vegetative state (coma)RM180,000–RM240,000