Pedestrian injured by speeding car wins Dh1.5m compensation

INDIAN MAN WAS LEFT PERMANENTLY DISABLED IN 2017 ACCIDENT

Legal and Court Correspondent

An insurance company has been ordered to pay Dh1.5 million in compensation to a worker who suffered permanent physical and mental disability following a car accident in March 2017.

An Emirati man was speeding in his Mercedes Benz when he mowed down the Indian worker, Israr Ekramuddine, who was trying to cross Falaj Al Mualla Street in Umm Al Quwain.

The Traffic Prosecution in UAQ accused the 29-year-old driver of causing critical injuries to the Indian, driving recklessly, speeding and wrecking the car. The Traffic Court in UAQ found the accused guilty and fined him Dh1,000.

The victim’s legal guardian approached legal consultant Salam Pappinessery of Ali Ebrahim Advocates and Legal Consultants to lodge a civil compensation claim against the insurance company that insured the Emirati’s car.

Pappinessery filed a civil lawsuit before the Dubai Civil Court seeking Dh5 million in compensation against Ekramuddine’s moral, mental, medical and physical damages.

Defending the claimant in court, advocate Ebrahim said: “The victim suffered 100 per cent permanent disability. He has become quadriplegic — cannot move — and lost the ability to speak. He also lost the ability to control his urination and excretion. He has become impotent and suffers from permanent erectile dysfunction, and cannot breathe normally. He requires fulltime medical care in addition to constant physiotherapy.”

The insurance company denied any liability and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

However, presiding judge Salem Mohammad Al Qaidi ordered the insurance company to pay Dh1.5 million in compensation.

Advocate Ebrahim has appealed the primary ruling before the Appeal Court seeking to have the compensatory amount increased.