BD40,000 compensation ordered over cyclist’s death

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A private firm, its driver, and their insurer have been ordered to pay BD40,000 to the family of a cyclist killed after the driver jumped a red light and struck him.

The court found the driver responsible for the crash, which left the man with a fractured face, broken ribs, and bleeding in the brain.

He died eight days later in hospital.

Cycling

The deceased had been cycling in the morning when he was hit by a vehicle owned by the driver’s employer, a private company.

The car was insured by a third party.

According to the court, the man behind the wheel had ignored the traffic signal and crashed into the cyclist, who was thrown from his bike and struck directly.

Lawyer Hameed Al Sammak, acting for the victim’s heirs, told the court that the driver had been behind the wheel of a company vehicle, in the course of his work, and that the firm bore responsibility for the harm caused.

The Lower Criminal Court handed the driver a 10-month prison sentence to be served without delay.

His driving licence was also withdrawn for a year once the sentence is complete.

Ruling

That ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal. No further challenge was filed.

In its ruling, the court stated that the company was liable for the actions of its employee as he was acting within the scope of his job.

The insurer was also held responsible under the terms of the policy. All three were found jointly liable for the death.