Employee wins Dhs200,000 compensation for work-related eye injury in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Cases Court has ordered a company to pay an employee Dhs200,000 in compensation for a work-related injury, as well as covering the legal fees and expenses.

The case concerns a worker who filed a lawsuit against his employer, requesting Dhs500,000 in material and moral compensation, plus legal interest at a rate of 9% per annum from the date of filing until full payment. He also requested fees, expenses and attorney's fees as a precautionary measure. The worker claimed that he was injured at work when one of the brakes suddenly loosened, causing the new bolts to come loose and leading to a rapid and sudden recoil in his left eye.

The Abu Dhabi Penal Court ruled that the company should pay a fine of Dhs25,000. This was appealed and the penalty was reduced to Dhs10,000, a decision that was upheld.

The worker sustained physical and psychological injuries as a result of the incident, which resulted in him losing sight in his left eye. According to the medical report, he is now partially sighted. A forensic doctor was appointed to examine him, assess his injuries and the resulting damage, and prepare a detailed medical report outlining the current and anticipated future physical and psychological effects.

The Court noted that the documents proved the company's negligence and failure to take safety precautions had caused the victim's injury, and fined it Dhs10,000 after it appealed the initial ruling. As this ruling was upheld by the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal, the elements of negligence on the part of the company were established and the ruling became final and binding.

The Court explained that the report by the appointed forensic doctor concluded that the worker's injuries, namely injury to the left eye resulting in blurred vision and near blindness, were sustained as a result of the accident. The court deemed this to be material damage, amounting to Dhs150,000. The injury also caused him pain and distress, which the court considered to be non-economic damage, estimated at Dhs50,000. Therefore, the court ruled that the company should pay the worker Dhs200,000 in compensation for all damages.