Court orders BD 15,000 compensation in traffic accident disability case

Victim suffers lasting injuries including fractures and rib damage

The High Civil Court ordered an insurance company and a driver to jointly pay BD 15,000 in compensation to a traffic accident victim who suffered a permanent disability of 30 percent, in addition to court fees and legal costs.

Court ruled that the driver and the insurance company must jointly and severally pay the compensation after finding the accident resulted from the driver’s negligence. The vehicle involved was insured by the defendant company.

Court documents show the driver had already been convicted in criminal proceedings and sentenced to three months in prison and a BD 500 fine. The ruling became final after his appeal was rejected, leading the victim to file a civil compensation case.

According to the case, the victim sustained serious injuries, including fractures to the right leg, head and hand injuries, as well as damage to the ribs and joints. The plaintiff continues to undergo medical treatment, while medical committees assessed the permanent disability at 30 percent.

The insurance company argued that the claim was time-barred. However, the court noted that limitation periods in civil claims related to criminal acts are suspended until criminal proceedings conclude and resume only after a final judgment.

The court awarded BD 14,000 for physical injuries and permanent disability, and BD 1,000 for moral damages including pain and suffering, bringing the total compensation to BD 15,000. It also imposed 3 percent annual interest on the insurance company, calculated from the filing date until full payment, in addition to court expenses, translation fees, medical assessment costs, and legal fees.