€87,644 compensation to injured driver
A man who could not work and will need medical treatment for the rest of his life because of a car crash in 2006 was given compensation of €87,644 today.
George Spiteri, who was 39 at the time of the incident, was severely injured when a truck driven by Raymond Fava came out of a side street and crashed into his VW Bora in Birzebbuga.
Fava had admitted not keeping a proper lookout despite a stop sign.
He was ordered by a court to pay the compensation to Mr Spiteri today after the court heard how Mr Spiteri suffered a 50% disability, was not working and suffered various medical problems.
He used to have an income of €8,400 a year.
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18 Comments
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carmel parnis
Nov 26th 2012, 14:49
Compared to over 200,000 and 800,000 euros compensation in 2 sepearte sentences given by Mr Justice Meli is simply peanuts especially when considering that this poor man is not fit to work unlike those 2 .
Martin Saliba
Nov 26th 2012, 14:19
Wasnt someone awarded 208,000 euros for being wrongfully dismised from his job . He was give his whole wages up to retirement in another 7 years if im not mistaken. What madness is this giving 87,00 euros to someone who i still young and suffered 50% disability ?
maria aquilina
Nov 26th 2012, 13:46
Now because he has such a sum in his name will the invalidity/unemployment benefit be stopped?The sum is very small considering his new needs.
Francis Grech
Nov 26th 2012, 12:28
It's a start yes, but not as near as the hefty lump sum of € 785 000 paid to the woman that was not given her father's job as a docker with the Malta Freeport while she was still working as a bank employee this poor chap is disabled for life.
Tony Borg
Nov 26th 2012, 12:26
Who is paying the compensation? Is it the truck driver or his insurance company?
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 26th 2012, 12:32
It would be his insurer.
M Abdilla
Nov 26th 2012, 12:48
Obviously the insurer...I doubt the truck driver can pay such a sum
C Cassar
Nov 26th 2012, 12:58
Which all adds to the policy increases for eveyone each year.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 26th 2012, 13:37
@ C Cassar:
True, but this is so much more deserving than other cases that one sometimes hears about.
Repairs used to cost much more when it was known that insurer was to pay.
One injury claim, notwithstanding the amount of the award, pales into insignificance by comparison.
Mr Mike Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 11:59
Not much. I would appeal. At € 8400 pa it is almost 11 year salary only. Surely not enough unless he was at fault in causing the accident.
Tarcisio Bonello
Nov 26th 2012, 13:18
Mr. Farrugia - you have to factor in the 50% disability -- hence the 10.43 years (to be exact) need to be multiplied by 2 (ie the 50% - half) making it a payment for nearly 20.8 years ie 20 years and 10 months.
I would question the Euro 8400 salary - This should have been increased yearly by at least the COLA and any chances of promotion during his remaining working years. E8400 = E700 monthly
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 26th 2012, 11:26
Just shows how stupid the sum decided for a 53 year-old nurse assistant was a few weeks ago. Simply no cohesion in compensation sentences meted out by our courts. This guy suffered much more than the 53 year-old nursing aid who drives around in a Mercedes SLK besides holidays to Vegas etc.
J Micallef
Nov 26th 2012, 14:30
Well said indeed.
Salvinu Buttigieg
Nov 26th 2012, 11:17
At last Malta is catching up with the UK and the rest of europe regarding compensations caused by negligence and accidents in the work place.
james macdonald
Nov 26th 2012, 11:42
I agree - however, I have just returned from my home (UK) and can honestly say that the more the compensation cases continue - the more there will be others trying to make a fast buck from it.
It seems that the UK had implemented a lot of rules and regulations for the good of the public but over the years, it has come to haunt them and just made extra problems.
Ian Mamo
Nov 26th 2012, 11:45
50% disability should have had a compensation on 580,000 not 58000.....
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 26th 2012, 12:07
This award is not enough. €8,400 multiplied by 22 years left to retirement is already €184k. Add COLA/inflation to his earnings and the figure swells colossally.
If the 50% disability made him unemployable, he should be awarded much more than half his earnings. That's apart from compensation for his injuries, ongoing pain/distress, etc, etc, etc.
Failing that, he becomes a burden.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 26th 2012, 12:19
Cont/ And don't forget that by 2027 when he reaches 61, the retirement age will have risen drammatically.
He should appeal and ask for more compensation for his pain, his sexual deficiency, his kidneys and anything else he has faced since 2006 and what he will be subjected to for the rest of his life.
Compare it to €800k awarded for a dock worker's lost earnings, without medical costs.
Please choose the reason of your report below: