UAE: Indian expat woman awarded Dh1m after Dubai crash, serves wake-up call against jaywalking

Dubai: An Indian expat woman in the UAE who received Dh1 million in compensation after a road accident in Dubai has urged residents to strictly avoid jaywalking, making her ordeal a “wake-up call” against the practice.

Rehmathbi Mamad Sali was struck by a car while crossing a road near the Bangladeshi Consulate in Al Wuheida on April 24, 2023. The crash left her with a brain haemorrhage, spinal fracture, muscle weakness, and partial paralysis in her right arm and leg.

Dubai Police and court investigations found the Emirati driver negligent for not paying attention to other road users. He was fined Dh3,000.

However, Rehmathbi was also fined Dh1,000 for crossing at a non-designated area.

Rehmathbi's family sought legal assistance from Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services. Lawyers from the firm filed a compensation claim with the court, submitting medical certificates, the criminal case verdict, and other relevant documents. The lawsuit named the insurance companies from both the time of the accident and the time of filing, as well as the UAE national driver, as defendants.

The court, recognising the severity of Rehmathbi’s injuries, ordered the insurance company active at the time of the accident to pay Dh1 million in compensation. Subsequent appeals filed by the defendants in the appeals court and the Supreme Court were dismissed, ensuring that the judgment in Rehmathbi's favour was upheld.

Speaking to Gulf News after receiving the cheque, Rehmathbi said she never imagined she would receive such a large sum. “Alhamdulillah, I am so grateful,” she said with slurred speech, still struggling to talk.

Though her family has roots in the south Indian state of Kerala, she said she used to live in Mumbai in the western state Maharashtra before arriving in the UAE about 30 years ago. The mother of two and grandmother of one, whose husband passed away years ago, said she could no longer work.

Before the accident, she had taken whatever jobs she could find, including as a housemaid and school bus conductor. “Now I can’t walk properly, I find it difficult to speak and move properly. I rely on my children, who don’t earn much,” she said.

She said she was under treatment for a month at a hospital in Dubai, with some well-wishers helping her settle the hospital bills.

“My children got me a wheelchair, but I couldn’t even sit on it properly,” she recalled.

Rehmathbi continued treatment at an Ayurvedic centre in Kerala for three months. She still depends on medicines prescribed by her trauma doctor back home.

“I will use the compensation to repay my debts in Mumbai and for my ongoing treatment and family needs,” she said. Her daughter is married, and her son works in a coffee shop in Dubai, but their income is limited, she pointed out.

Rehmathbi said she wanted her story to serve as a warning. “I want to tell everyone to cross the road only on zebra crossings. It can cost your life otherwise,” she said.

She also urged people not to cross the road in poorly lit areas. “I did not see the car coming. I think he came very fast and hit me. It was around 10.30 to 11pm,” she recalled. She said she was out to look for a flat to move out with her children.

Records and sketches from Dubai Police showed that the impact of the crash threw her forward beyond the vehicle’s stopping point.

In recent months, authorities have intensified their crackdown on unsafe pedestrian behaviour, with Dubai Police issuing over 28,000 fines for jaywalking and recording nine jaywalking-related deaths in the first five months of this year.

In 2023, more than 43,800 people were fined for jaywalking, and eight pedestrians lost their lives in related accidents in Dubai alone.

In 2024, over 177,500 jaywalking violations were recorded across the UAE, highlighting a persistent and dangerous trend despite public safety efforts.

Under the new federal traffic law (Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024), crossing the road from non-designated areas can lead to fines ranging between Dh5,000 and Dh10,000, and in some high-speed zones even prison terms, a stark increase from the previous Dh400 penalty.

Despite these measures, the temptation to save time often leads pedestrians to take risks. Jaywalking remains a persistent safety concern in the UAE despite strict laws and heavy fines. Many pedestrians prioritise convenience over safety, often crossing roads unlawfully due to the distance to the nearest zebra crossing.