NEPALI NATIONAL IN SHARJAH AWARDED AED 350,000 IN COMPENSATION AFTER ROAD ACCIDENT

SHARJAH: The Sharjah Insurance Dispute Settlement Committee has ordered an insurance company to pay AED 350,000 (approximately 1.39 Crore Nepalese Rupees) in compensation to Narayan Battarai, a Nepalese national who sustained life-threatening injuries in a road accident in Al Dhaid.

In addition to the primary compensation, the court ordered the insurer to pay AED 4,100 for medical expenses, AED 500 in legal fees, and an annual interest of 5% on the total amount from the date of the verdict until the final settlement is paid.

The Incident The accident occurred on May 23, 2024, in the Al Dhaid area of Sharjah. Narayan was crossing the road at a non-designated area (not a zebra crossing) when he was struck by a vehicle driven by an Emirati national. The impact resulted in severe injuries to his head, right leg, and ribs. Due to the lack of a designated crossing at the site, the Criminal Court had initially fined both the driver and Narayan AED 1,000 each for their respective negligence.

The Legal Battle Following the accident, Narayan’s family sought legal assistance from Salam Pappinissery, CEO of YAB Legal Services. Upon taking the case, the YAB legal team filed a civil lawsuit with the Insurance Dispute Settlement Committee, presenting comprehensive medical reports, the criminal court judgment, and a detailed memorandum justifying the claim for damages.

Verdict Upheld by Supreme Court Dissatisfied with the initial ruling, the insurance company’s counsel challenged the verdict in the Court of Appeal and subsequently in the Supreme Court. However, the higher courts dismissed the appeals, upholding the original verdict in favor of the victim.