Man awarded €27,000 in damages after 2008 car accident

A court has awarded €26,578 in damages to a man who was left disabled after a 2008 traffic accident.

Kyle Saliba had suffered a permanent disability after a car driven by John Borg on 9 May 2008, in which he was riding as a passenger, crashed into an electricity pole and overturned.

Saliba filed an action for damages against Borg and his insurer, Elmo Insurance. The defendants argued that the plaintiff had contributed to his own injuries as he was not wearing his seatbelt.

Mr Justice Anthony Ellul, presiding over the First Hall of the Civil Court, was told that the accident had taken place after Borg lost control of the car mounted the central strip. 

In a judgment delivered last week, the court held that the accident had occurred because Borg at excessive speed, however, contributory negligence was found on Saliba’s part due to his failure to wear a seatbelt.