Court Orders Woman to Pay Dh350,000 for Injuring Minor in Road Accident

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Cases Court has ordered a woman to pay Dh350,000 in compensation to the parent of a 14-year-old girl who suffered severe injuries after being struck while crossing a zebra crossing on an electric scooter.

The court found that the woman’s negligence and failure to exercise due caution caused the accident, which left the minor with multiple injuries, including the removal of her right kidney.

The parent had filed a lawsuit against the female driver, accusing her of causing significant bodily harm to his daughter due to careless driving. A final medical report confirmed the extent of the injuries, noting the removal of the child’s right kidney, removal of a tumour, and removal of a healthy gland on the same side. The girl also required surgical intervention to address damage to the affected kidney.

The defendant argued that the girl bore partial responsibility, claiming the minor crossed the road without taking adequate precautions and that the vehicle was travelling at low speed, which she said made the girl’s behaviour the primary cause of the accident.

However, the court rejected this defence, stating that it lacked legal and factual merit and contradicted the findings of a prior final ruling that had fully convicted the driver and held her exclusively responsible. The court further highlighted that the severity of the injuries—particularly the loss of a kidney and multiple surgeries—indicated a strong impact inconsistent with the defendant’s claim of low speed.

The judgment also emphasised that a minor cannot legally be held responsible for traffic accidents. Even if a child crosses unexpectedly, the law places full responsibility on drivers to slow down and exercise heightened caution near pedestrian crossings, especially where children may be present.

The court explained that the loss of the child’s kidney constituted the loss of a complete organ, warranting full blood money of Dh200,000 under Islamic law. Additional injuries, including surgeries, stent placement and permanent urinary system damage, resulted in a further Dh70,000 in compensation. Considering the long-term physical and psychological impact, ongoing treatment needs and overall suffering endured, the court assessed an additional Dh80,000.

In total, the court ruled that Dh350,000 was due as compensation for all legal and moral damages.

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