Lm18,000 damages after traffic accident

A family injured in a traffic accident in July 2001 was yesterday awarded over Lm18,000 damages by Mr Justice Tonio Mallia, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

John and Mary Rose Mizzi and their daughter Amanda filed their writ of summons against Carmelo Azzopardi.

They claimed that Mary Rose and Amanda Mizzi had been injured while driving in Naxxar when they had been involved in an accident with a car driven by Azzopardi.

Plaintiffs' car was driven by Amanda Mizzi at the time. Plaintiffs claimed that Mary Rose and Amanda Mizzi had sustained permanent disabilities and they asked the court to condemn Azzopardi to make good their damages.

In its judgment the court pointed out that it clearly resulted from the evidence produced that Azzopardi was solely responsible for the damages sustained.

Plaintiffs were driving at low speed on their side of the road when suddenly Azzopardi's car, driven at frantic speed, had crossed the continuous white lines in the road and collided with them.

Azzopardi had driven away from the accident but had later admitted his liability when apprehended by the police.

The court further noted that Azzopardi had told the police that he had had three bottles of beer to drink and that he had personal problems at the time.

However, the court pointed out that while it could sympathise with Azzopardi, recourse to drink and to endangering others was no solution.

It resulted that Amanda Mizzi had sustained a 10 per cent permanent disability while her mother had sustained a six per cent disability.

After examining their income, the court established the damages in the sum of Lm18,950.