7 days ago
Loopholes in traffic laws leave accident victim in limbo
KUALA LUMPUR: A routine ride to work ended in agony for motorcyclist Jebat when he crashed into a car parked by the roadside without any warning cones or signage.
He ended up breaking four bones in his leg, but the then 19-year-old's ordeal didn't end there — the car had neither insurance nor road tax, making it impossible for him to seek compensation from the owner.
Jebat's mother, Kak Aby, 39, said she had to fork out thousands of ringgit for her son's recovery following the accident at the end of last year.
"His hospital bill came up to almost RM400. Thankfully, it was a government hospital, but I had to pay for his supplements and milk. I also had to spend on travel expenses from our home in Sunway to Sungai Buloh.
"It wasn't just him who suffered. I too had to sacrifice, taking leave from work to send him for physiotherapy," she told the New Straits Times.
To rub salt in their wound, the car owner got away with just a slap on the wrist — a RM300 fine.
"He didn't say or do anything for my son. He knew he could get away with just a summons, so why bother paying us for our troubles?" she said.
Kak Aby said some lawyers tried to take advantage of her son's predicament, claiming that his case was winnable with at least RM40,000 in compensation.
"But later, they said nothing could be done because the car had no insurance," she added.
Kak Aby also had to pay around RM300 to repair Jebat's motorbike, as his insurance covered only about 60 per cent of the cost.
Since then, Kak Aby wants the government to crack down on vehicle owners who failed to renew their road tax and insurance.
"We need stricter penalties so road users will be more responsible. At least seize their vehicles until they renew their documents.
"Otherwise, pity those who get into accidents with them. Imagine if it involves a death — a father leaving behind a wife and children. What would happen to them?" she said.
Dev, 74, also fell victim when his new car was hit by a man he believed to be drink-driving.
"I just had the car for three months when the incident happened early last year.
"After hitting my car, the man tried to conceal his road tax, and when he came over, I could smell alcohol.
"I told him my car was brand new and I wanted to lodge a police report so I could claim from his insurance to repair the damage.
"He said 'Yes, you can go ahead', but he never turned up at the police station," he said.
Dev later found out that the man had no insurance.
"After knowing that, I felt demotivated. I knew nothing could be done, and I had to use my own insurance instead.
"So, I lost my no-claim bonus," he said, referring to the discount offered on premiums with no history of claims.
The repair cost almost RM20,000, but for Dev, what frustrated him more was the man getting away scot-free despite his actions that could have ended a life.
"When I went to the police station to request the investigation report, the police said they can't investigate because the other party didn't lodge a report.
"So it just ended there," he said, adding that the driver was not even issued a summons.
Now he believes that law enforcement procedures need a review and frequent operations must be conducted to weed out such drivers.
