A motorist, John Grech, was ordered to pay €10,000 in damages after causing a three per cent permanent disability to a woman in a head-on collision.

The case dates to 10 years ago, when Mr Grech lost control of his van while driving in Dawret il-Gudja, Gudja, and subsequently skidded onto the opposing carriageway, resulting in a full-blown impact with the woman’s car.

Five years ago the man was convicted of dangerous driving and of involuntarily inflicting grievous injuries.

He had failed to keep a proper lookout

In its decision, the Civil Court presided over by Madame Justice Anna Felice deemed Mr Grech’s admission that he had not seen the woman’s car as a clear admission that he had failed to keep a “proper lookout”. From the police sketch it also transpired that the woman could not have avoided the collision, the judge remarked.

The court also dismissed the man’s argument that his vehicle had skidded due to the slippery conditions caused by the rainy weather, saying it was not convinced that he had demonstrated prudence while driving.

The man had also refused to perform a breathalyser test, even though he smelled of alcohol. Consequently, the court ruled that he should be held solely responsible for the incident.