(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

An Indian woman who was awarded Dh1-million compensation, after an accident , said the money will help her continue treatment and rebuild her life.

Indian expat Rehmathbi Mamad Sali was crossing a road near the Bangladesh Consulate in Dubai's Al Wahida area in April 2023 when she was hit by a car driven by a UAE national.

Recommended For You Start school right with a dental visit that builds confidence and healthy smiles

“I have a lot of debts from the months of treatment that I underwent while I was in India,” she told Khaleej Times.“This money will help me repay those debts. It will also give me some money to continue the treatment I need to get better.”

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

After the accident, Rehmathbi was hospitalised at Rashid Hospital in Dubai. She suffered serious injuries, including a brain hemorrhage, a spinal fracture, along with muscle weakness and partial paralysis in her right arm and leg.

During police and court investigations, it was determined that the driver's negligence and failure to consider other road users caused the accident.

The court, however, also found Rehmathbi to be partially at fault for crossing the road without paying attention to the vehicles. She was fined Dh1,000 for the violation. With the legal assistance of Yab Legal Services, she filed a compensation claim. The court - recognising the severity of her injuries - ordered the insurance company to pay her.

The incident

On the day of the accident, Rehmathbi was looking for a new accommodation.“The villa I was staying in was getting very overcrowded,” she recalled.“My children had also come to the UAE, and they were just getting settled in their jobs. We wanted a new place to stay. I just remember alighting from the car and standing on the sidewalk.”

She was crossing the road at a location where pedestrians are not permitte , when she was hit by a Nissan Patrol car driven by a UAE national. However, she said she didn't recall crossing the road.“My last memory is still of standing on the sidewalk,” she said.“I woke up five days later in the hospital. I don't remember anything that happened in between that time.”

When she woke up, Rehmathbi was unable to even sit up and was in constant pain.“After about 1.5 months, I was able to just do enough to sit up on my own,” she said.“The hospital discharged me. My children managed to get me into a wheelchair and I was wheeled out of Rashid Hospital.”

Long road to recovery

Once she was discharged, Rehmathbi travelled to her hometown in the southern Indian state of Kerala, where she underwent prolonged treatment.“I was admitted to an Ayurveda treatment center for almost three months,” she said.“There, I was able to walk again. Once I had regained some of my facilities, I decided to come back. My children are here and I wanted to be with them.”

Prior to the accident, she had worked in various capacities including as a bus conductor and as a house help.“I used to do any work that I could get,” she said.“However, after the accident, I am not able to work. I still have partial paralysis of my right hand. It is also difficult to talk for long periods because I suffered a brain injury.”

She said she was grateful for the compensation.“This money will enable me to continue my treatment and get better,” she said.“And who knows, maybe one day I will be able to work again.”

MENAFN24082025000049011007ID1109967645