Truck Driver Ordered to Pay Dh89,080 to Employer Over Red-Light Accident

An Abu Dhabi court has ordered a truck driver to pay Dh89,080 to his employer for losses caused by a traffic accident after he jumped a red light, while rejecting the company’s original compensation claim of Dh230,000.

The ruling was issued by the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court, which found that the driver’s traffic violation directly resulted in financial losses for the shipping and customs clearance company that employed him.

The accident occurred on October 13, 2025, when the driver ran a red light in Abu Dhabi, causing a collision that endangered lives. The truck was subsequently seized by authorities. The driver had joined the company on July 31, 2025, less than three months before the incident.

A criminal court had earlier convicted the driver and imposed a Dh10,000 fine. Based on that judgment, the company filed a civil claim seeking compensation for expenses incurred in recovering the vehicle and losses arising from the truck being unavailable for business operations for 230 days.

The company initially sought Dh230,000 in damages, arguing that the vehicle’s prolonged impoundment had affected its operations. However, the court found that only part of the claim was supported by sufficient evidence.

During the proceedings, the driver appeared before the court without legal representation and rejected the company’s claim, stating that he was unable to pay the amount sought.

The company submitted documents detailing its financial losses, including Dh50,000 paid as a reckless driving fine, Dh3,000 in vehicle impoundment charges, Dh2,180 in traffic violations, Dh1,800 for towing the truck from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi, and Dh2,100 in additional transport charges imposed by Saaed.

It also claimed Dh230,000 in losses resulting from the truck being out of service from October 13, 2025, until June 4, 2026.

Court Recognises Documented Losses

In its judgment, the court said the receipts and invoices submitted by the company for the fines, towing and related expenses were issued by competent authorities and established as genuine.

The court noted that the company would not have incurred these costs but for the driver’s actions, which were considered the direct cause of the financial losses.

The driver failed to provide evidence challenging the documents or proving that the expenses were unrelated to the accident. As a result, the court accepted Dh59,080 as proven losses arising from the incident.

However, regarding the company’s claim for Dh230,000 due to the truck being unavailable for 230 days, the court exercised its discretion and reduced the amount. It ruled that Dh30,000 was fair and reasonable compensation for the loss of use of the vehicle during its impoundment period.

The court ultimately ordered the driver to pay Dh89,080, comprising Dh59,080 in documented expenses and Dh30,000 for the loss of use of the truck. He was also ordered to pay court fees, expenses and Dh300 in legal costs.

The judgment highlighted that compensation must provide a fair remedy for actual losses suffered while preventing excessive claims beyond what can be justified by evidence.

 

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