Family’s Crash Payout Raised to BD20,270

A family whose son was injured in a road crash has had its court award raised to BD20,270 after an appeals medical panel assessed his permanent disability at 30pc instead of 20pc.

The Civil Appeals Court changed the earlier ruling and ordered the driver and her insurer to pay the sum jointly. The award now includes BD18,000 for the injured son, BD1,000 for his father, BD1,000 for his siblings, and BD270 in treatment costs.

The court also ordered the driver and the insurance company to pay the medical panel fees, court costs and lawyers’ fees.

Lawyer Maryam Al Shaikh, acting for the injured son’s father and family, said the case followed a road crash caused by the driver, whose car was insured by the second defendant.

She said the driver had failed to drive with due care and attention before hitting the claimant. The father then filed an urgent application asking for a medical panel to assess the injury.

The first medical report assessed the son’s permanent disability at 20pc. The family said the crash had left them with financial loss and psychological harm.

A final criminal judgment was later issued against the driver. The family then filed a civil claim against the driver and insurer, asking for BD18,000 for the injured son, statutory interest, BD1,500 for the father, BD1,500 for the siblings to be divided equally, and BD270 in treatment costs.

The court of first instance awarded BD15,000 to the father as his son’s legal guardian. It also awarded BD770 to the father personally and BD600 to be divided among the injured son’s three siblings.

It further ordered the driver and insurer to pay statutory interest, lawyers’ fees and the medical panel fee.