Dubai Courts awards Dh575,000 compensation to road accident victim

Dubai: An Indian expat who was injured in a road accident last year has been awarded a Dh575,000 compensation by Dubai Courts.

Umesh Kumar, who hails from the Indian state of Kerala, met with an accident on Al Ittihad Road near Safeer Mall last September. He worked as a bus driver with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Kumar was walking with a colleague, Balu Subramaniam, on the footpath, when a car rammed into them.

Tragic

Subramanian died on the spot while Kumar suffered severe injuries. He was taken to a Sharjah hospital and later shifted to Kasorgod, a city in Kerala for further treatment which lasted around six months.

Upon his return to Dubai, Kumar approached the court after learning that the family members of Subramanian had won a case against the driver and were awarded blood money by Dubai Courts. “I too filed a case claiming compensation and I am relieved the verdict has gone in my favour,” said Kumar, who now works in the RTA’s operations department. Recalling his ordeal, he said, “My life turned upside down after the accident. I underwent multiple surgeries in the leg – it is still a struggle for me to walk. In the midst of this, my first child was born. My expenses have shot up and I have not been able to do enough for him because of my medical condition.”

Kumar’s lawyer, Salam Pappinnisseri of Ali Ibrahim Advocates and Legal Consultant has approached the appeals court seeking an increase in the compensation.

“Kumar is the sole bread winner of his family and the last year has been financially challenging for him and his family,” said Pappinnisseri.