Injured man ‘can sue BMA’

A man who injured his leg on Monday when he stepped on a broken drain cover in a Bangkok street could sue City Hall for compensation, says the Lawyers Council of Thailand (LCT).

Niwat Kaewluan, the LCT’s secretarygeneral, said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration violated Civil Code Section 420, and its negligence resulted in weak infrastructure. However, the LCT did not disclose any compensation estimate.

Mr Niwat was responding to media reports on a Facebook post by Watchira Sawatdee, the injured man, who said he needed about 100 stitches to treat three major wounds to his right leg which resulted from the accident. He said his leg fell in the drain after he stepped on the broken cover. The accident took place around 7pm at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, he said, adding doctors told him the wounds could get infected.

On Wednesday, Chavalit Songnawarat, the Chatuchak district office director, said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra had asked him to visit Mr Watchira in hospital. Mr Watchira’s personal insurance covered his medical bills, Mr Chavalit said.

Mr Watchira didn’t blame anyone for the mishap as he thought it was partly his fault for not avoiding the drain cover, he added.

Mr Watchira also wrote that the district office, when first advised of the accident, asked him not to claim compensation. Staff said they were worried the BMA may try to take the money out of their salaries.