UAE Supreme Court Quashes Dh3 Million Ruling in Fatal Crash Case

The UAE’s Federal Supreme Court has overturned a Dh3 million compensation award granted to a father who lost his three sons in a tragic traffic accident, ruling that the lower courts failed to adequately explain how the damages were calculated.

While setting aside the compensation amount, the court upheld the liability of the employer company, affirming that it remained legally responsible for the actions of its employee and the company-owned vehicle involved in the crash.

The case relates to a collision involving a truck owned by the company and driven by one of its employees. The driver was convicted in a final criminal judgment of driving under the influence of alcohol, an offence that resulted in the deaths of the three brothers and injuries to other members of their family.

A court of first instance had ordered the driver and the company to jointly pay Dh3 million in compensation, in addition to Dh600,000 in blood money, along with interest. The appeals court later upheld the ruling.

Challenging the decision before the Federal Supreme Court, the company argued that it should not be held liable because the accident occurred outside official working hours and on a weekly holiday.

The top court rejected this defence, holding that the company remained responsible in its capacity as employer and custodian of the vehicle. However, it found merit in the company’s argument regarding the calculation of damages, noting that the judgment did not clearly outline the elements of material harm or the basis on which the compensation was assessed.

The Supreme Court therefore set aside the compensation award and referred the case back to the lower court for reconsideration and a more detailed assessment of damages.

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