Dh800,000 payout for Abu Dhabi worker paralysed in shaft fall

A labourer has been awarded Dh800,000 after being paralysed in a fall at work.

Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution took up the case after the man suffered paralysis in the lower half of his body. He fell while working in a maintenance shaft of a building.

His employer was found to have not provided the necessary safety equipment and was ordered to pay "irsh" or the legal "diyya" for the injuries and wounds sustained.

The amount awarded was estimated at Dh800,000 after the victim was examined by a forensic physician to ascertain the extent of his injuries.

Prosecutors had followed the case through four levels of litigation after not being satisfied with the verdict of the Court of First Instance, which acquitted the company because of lack of proof. They issued a decision to try the firm for negligence leading to injury and lodged a case with the Court of Appeal.

This decision was approved by the Court of Appeal, which unanimously ruled to cancel the first judgement and also fined the company Dh3,000. The case then passed through the Court of Cassation twice, which eventually ruled in favour of compensation amounting to Dh800,000, and ordered the company to pay this amount to the victim.