5 days ago
Bahrain: Insurance Firm Ordered To Pay BD8,910 In Total Loss Vehicle Claim
The Commercial Court has ordered an insurance company to pay BD8,910 to the owner of a 2019 Infiniti vehicle, which was declared a total loss following an accident that led to engine failure.
The court also ruled that the insurer must cover part of the legal costs, expert fees, and case expenses, while retaining ownership of the car's remains.
The case was brought by the vehicle's owner through lawyer Ahmed Tawk, after the insurer refused to cover the cost of replacing the engine. The accident occurred on July 29, 2024, when the car suffered front-end damage in a collision, including a punctured radiator that caused coolant loss and, subsequently, engine failure.
However, the court-appointed expert concluded that the engine failure was directly linked to the accident. The report explained that coolant loss caused by the damaged radiator, combined with the day's heat and pressure inside the cooling system, led to the failure rapidly—leaving no realistic opportunity for the driver to prevent it. The expert valued the vehicle at BD9,000 before the crash and BD1,800 as scrap, with estimated repairs at BD13,000, deeming the damage a total loss.
The insurer, in its defence, claimed the damage resulted from the owner's actions after the accident, alleging he continued to drive the car without safeguarding the engine. It submitted an opposing report from its own appointed expert.
