According to Ministry of Interior record, in 2022 there were around 381 fatalities and around 2,620 injuries. The figures are up from 2021- 256 dead and 2,437 injured.
FranGulf Advocates & Legal Consultants LLC, a Licensed Legal Consultants in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and Ra’s al-Khaimah; provide high-quality legal services in the cases related to motor vehicle accidents while adhering to the best standards of integrity, professional ethics, honesty and excellence. One can also seek legal advice through their online legal consultation platform which is active 24X7.
One of the main leading causes of death amongst children in UAE is road injuries. Out of three every second lethally wounded child loses his life in road crash.
The UAE’s road and transport authorities and traffic police play a significant role in guaranteeing safety and following traffic laws, and they employ cutting-edge technologies to reduce traffic offenses.
In all matters relating to traffic restrictions and infractions in the UAE, Federal Traffic Law No. 21 of 1995, as amended by Federal Law No. 12 of 2007, and the pertinent executive regulations and ministerial directives are applied.
In the UAE, a system of “black points” that can result in license confiscation is in place to make sure traffic laws are followed. This system works in lowering the rate of road accidents.
A handful of permanent points form the system’s foundation. A schedule-based system is used to assign black points to drivers who break traffic laws. The amount of black points is calculated starting from the date of the breach and reflects how serious the violation was.
On July 1, 2017; the UAE’s federal traffic law was changed. As part of Vision 2021, the new regulations seek to better safeguard the lives of road users by lowering the number of traffic fatalities from 6 per 100,000 to 3 per 100,000.
All people in a car, even those in the back seat, must wear seat belts; if they don’t, the driver will receive a 400 AED fine and four black points on their license. A child safety seat is required for children less than the age of four. Four points and a 400 AED punishment will be assessed for violations.
Reckless driving brings a 2,000 AED fine, 23 “black points”, and a 30-day vehicle impoundment.
Traffic lights violators will be fined 1,000 AED; 12 points penalty and their vehicle will be seized for 1 month.
If someone exceeds the speed limit by 80 km/h, he will be fined AED 3,000, hit with 23 “black points” and his car will be impounded for 60 days.
When it comes to driving while intoxicated, the UAE has a zero-tolerance stance.
It is against the law to use mobile phone while driving because it could cause major accidents and distract the driver.
To prevent any danger, RTA advises drivers to examine the pressure in their automobile tires once every two weeks. As per various records one of the main reasons of road accidents is automobile malfunctioning. It is therefore better that the vehicle is sent for services timely and when required one should update the vehicle.
ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVES
To prevent road accidents and reduce the impact on lives and property, various government agencies in the UAE have launched initiatives and awareness campaigns to reduce the impact of road fatalities. Some of these initiatives are:
Abu Dhabi Strategic Road Safety Plan
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Traffic Patrol has launched a road safety management plan aimed at reducing road fatalities to 3% per 100,000 population by 2021.
Abu Dhabi DoT has introduced road safety audits to be conducted on all new highway projects. This review covers the stages of design, construction and replication. The purpose of the audit is to identify road safety issues and suggest actions to address or mitigate the concerns.
Road Safety Awareness is a program created by Abu Dhabi-based DOT that focuses on drivers, passengers and pedestrians. The program aims to train children and young people to become future road users and drivers.
Haseb
In 2008, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) afloat a major lifelong safety campaign under the phrase “Haseb” (passport in Arabic). The campaign focuses on safety issues in roads, transport, construction sites, maritime and other safety activities.
Based on 2007 accident statistics, the campaign targeted traffic accidents, including speeding, cell phone use, fatigue, following too close together, loosening seat belts, lack of lane rules, and skipping red lights. We recognize seven main causes.
If someone hit your parked automobile:
If the driver who hit your car doesn’t inform the authorities and follow motor vehicle accident laws, you have little chance of compensation.
However, if there is a surveillance camera nearby, there is a good chance that it might be captured in the video.
It is always good to report the collision so that if the driver is identified, authorities can take a proper action against him.
Steps to make a car accident insurance claim in the United Arab Emirates:
Even if you drive perfectly safe, one cannot trust other automobilist on the road because this is an unforeseen scenario. Unfortunately, if you get into an accident and don’t have comprehensive insurance, you can lose a lot of money.
If you have car insurance, filing a claim can at least cover the financial portion of your injury, even if the injury is medically incurable.
Car insurance claims can seem daunting, but if you follow the right steps, it’s easy.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
After completing the necessary desk work at the police station, notify the insurance company to start the car insurance application process.
In practice, claims can be made once a police report is filed. In order to proceed with the claim, your insurance company may ask for details of your collision.
Another piece of advice is to submit your claim as soon as possible if you want a hassle-free claim process. The sooner you apply, the sooner your car will be repaired.
Taking photos of the mishap is crucial for reporting the damage.
If you want to make a personal injury claim, it is also helpful to photograph your physical injuries in close proximity to the scene of the accident.
Check your insurance policy. If you don’t have a medical emergency, you can instantaneously check the terms of your policy on your online insurance site.
As a result, you will be informed of exclusions and inclusions and what should and should not be included in your claim.
“Blood money”, in general is what the offender pays to the victim or his family for the death or injury of the victim. It is also known as ‘diya’, and is in line with Islamic Shariah principles.
Blood money in the United Arab Emirates is worth 200,000 AED ($54,458) for a person’s life either men or women. Arshi compensation (injury money) covers loss of function of an organ, limb or body part. Payments are made based on a fixed amount, which includes the percentage of damage determined by the health inspection committee. This is about 200,000 AED in blood money. For example, if the medical examination team determines that a person has a 50% disability, they will receive AED 100,000 in blood money. In case of bodily injury, such as the loss of both limbs, the court finds that it deserves the full blood money.
In a recent motor vehicle accident case handled by FranGulf Advocates & Legal Consultants LLC, a well renowned firm situated in UAE; an Indian expatriate was awarded 5 Million dirhams. Due to the accident the 20 years young boy had to suffer from 50% brain damage along with damage to his skull, arms, and legs.