Dh1.1 million awarded to road crash victim

Dubai: An Indian cafeteria worker who suffered serious head injuries in a road accident has been awarded compensation of Dh1.1 million by Dubai Courts.

Abdul Rahman, who hails from the Indian state of Kerala, was hit by a car in October 2015 when he was crossing a road near Jimi Mall in Al Ain. The car was driven by an Emirati.

Rahman was rushed to Al Ain Hospital where he remained in coma for five months. He was later shifted to MIMS hospital in Calicut, Kerala, for further treatment.

“We've exhausted all our savings on my father's treatment The compensation has come as a huge relief”

- Arif Puthiya Purayil, son of accident victim

Rahman’s lawyer Salam Pappinnisseri of YAB Legal Group said he filed for compensation in Dubai Courts as the insurance provider of the vehicle involved in the accident is based in Dubai.

Rahman’s son, Arif Puthiya Purayil was handed a cheque for Dh1.1 million.

Purayil said he has remitted the money to India so that it could be used for his father’s ongoing treatment and medicines.

“My father is immobile. He has little consciousness and cannot move his hands or legs. He needs someone to take care of his daily needs. Over the years we have exhausted all our savings on his treatment. The compensation has come as a huge relief to us,” said Arif who also works as a waiter in a local cafeteria in Al Ain. Pappinnisseri said: “We made an initial claim for Dh2 million. The case went to Appeals court which awarded a compensation payout of Dh1.2 million.”

Road accidents claimed 525 lives in the UAE in 2017. Of them 230 deaths occurred as a result of speeding.

The UAE’s amended federal traffic law came into effect last July 1. The new regulations aim to further protect the lives of road users and reduce traffic casualties from about 6 per 100,000 people to 3 per 100,000 as per Vision 2021.