A man injured in a traffic accident in 2008 has been awarded €26,578 in damages.

Kyle Saliba filed his action for damages against John Borg and the latter's insurer Elmo Insurance Ltd.

Mr Saliba told the court that he was a passenger in a car driven by Mr Borg when the latter crashed into an electricity pole and the car overturned.

Mr Saliba told the court that he had suffered a permanent disability as a result of the action and requested that Mr Borg be ordered to make good for the damages sustained.

On their part, the defendants denied responsibility for the accident which took place in Gzira on May 9, 2008, adding that Mr Saliba had contributed towards the accident and towards the damages he had suffered.

Mr Justice Anthony Ellul noted that the accident had occurred when Mr Borg lost control of the car and drove into a centre strip.

At the time of the accident Mr Saliba was not wearing his seatbelt.

The court found that the accident had occurred because Mr Borg was driving at excessive speed. But Mr Saliba was found to have contributed towards the damages he had suffered, though not to the accident, as a result of his failure to wear a seatbelt.

The court concluded by awarding Mr Saliba EUR26,578 in damages