Alappuzha native gets 4 crore Rupees compensation in Dubai car accident

Dubai: A Dubai court has ordered Vinu Abraham Thomas (29), a native of Alappuzha, to pay Dh2 million (INR 4 crore) in compensation to him after a year-and-a-half long legal battle. The court's order in Vinu's favor came after a year-and-a-half long legal battle.

On November 9, 2019, a vehicle collided with another vehicle on Dubai's Al Ain Road. The court found that the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver of the oncoming vehicle that collided with Vinu's vehicle and the court convicted the driver. However, Vinu sustained serious injuries in the accident. Therefore, his brother Vineesh, former Sharjah Indian Association President E.P. Johnson, and relatives Allen and Jinu approached Salam Pappinissery, a legal representative and social activist in the UAE, to seek compensation. Later, on his instructions, they filed a case with the Insurance Authority. A case seeking compensation was registered against a leading UAE insurance company that insured the Sharjah registered vehicle and the driver of the vehicle. Vinu's lawyer approached the authority with strong documents, including forensic medical reports collected from the Medico-Legal Department of the Sharjah Court.

When the case reached court, the lawyer appearing for the insurance company argued that Vinu was also a factor in the accident and that the accident occurred because the person who was injured got out of his own vehicle to observe another accident. However, the insurance company's arguments could not stand up to the documents and arguments submitted by Vinu's lawyer. The Insurance Authority found that the fault was on the part of the driver of the oncoming vehicle and therefore Vinu was entitled to compensation.

Based on the forensic medical report submitted by Vinu's lawyer and the injuries that the court was convinced of, the Insurance Authority ordered the insurance company to pay Vinu two million dirhams and nine percent of the legal benefit until it was fully paid. However, the insurance company filed a case in the Dubai Civil Court, expressing dissatisfaction with the Insurance Authority's verdict.

The insurance company filed a case in the civil court, claiming that Vinu's injuries were not fatal, that when assessed as a whole, only 5 percent of the injuries were sustained, and that Vinu, who was injured in this incident, was also at fault, and therefore, the two million dirhams awarded by the Insurance Authority as compensation should be canceled. However, Vinu's lawyer argued that the insurance company's statements were untrue and presented strong evidence to the court. The court carefully examined all these documents. After evaluating the documents submitted by Vinu's lawyer, the court found that the plaintiff's arguments were not consistent or sufficient evidence. Subsequently, the Civil Court upheld the Insurance Authority's verdict and ordered the insurance company to pay Vinu Abraham two million dirhams as compensation, along with court costs.