Woman questions amount given for loss of leg in bus accident



ABU DHABI // Is Dh600,000 enough money to compensate for losing a leg? That’s a question AT, 34, asks those who believe that she should be satisfied with the amount awarded to her by the court for losing her right leg in a bus accident in 2007.

“Is that enough money for the pain and suffering I go through every second,” asked the 34-year-old Filipina.

The accident that changed her life happened when she was heading to Abu Dhabi, after spending time with friends in Al Ain in 2012.

“I took one day off of work to visit my friends. I went on Tuesday and went back on Wednesday evening at 11pm. At around 12.15am Thursday the accident happened, 10 minutes prior to us arriving at the station,” she said.

She was sitting in the front window seat, and was asleep when tragedy struck.

“All I remember is I heard a large bang and felt myself moving up and down. When I opened my eyes, I was facing the side. My chair flipped. The side of the bus was scraped off. I felt that my leg was numb. When I lifted it up, it was gone,” she said

Her reaction was unusual.

“I thought I was dreaming. It took me a few minutes to realise that this was real. There was a guy who I think jumped off the bus. He kept calling me to get off. I told him I had no legs and couldn’t go down. When he looked at me, he screamed. At that time I realised that it was serious and I had become handicapped.”

AT asked the man to help her look for her bag.

“I didn’t want to go to the hospital without anyone knowing. I searched for my phone and the first person I called was a close friend.” The she called her a friend she works and lives with.

AT calmly told her that she wouldn’t be coming into work the next day because she lost her leg in an accident.

“She didn’t believe me because I was so calm. I just wanted someone to know where I was because I knew I’d be gone for a long time.

AT was taken to Rashid hospital where she remained for two months and underwent three surgeries. Both legs were broken and her right one was amputated just below the knee during the accident.

For five months after the operation, AT was unable to walk. Once her wounds healed she got a prosthetic leg and now uses a cane to walk.

“Without the cane, I limp and its even more tiring to walk. I have constant pain in my legs. That’s why its hard for me to accept. I thought before, if I got a prosthetic then that’s it. I didn’t know that I had to wear a silicon lining.”

The lining is a mould that has to be slipped on the leg before attaching the prosthetic.

“It is very tight. Usually for amputees the bones is cut straight but since the accident they tried to save what they could and the bone is jagged which causes me a lot of pain. I can have it cut off but this will require another operation and I don’t want to go through that again so Ill just bear the pain.”

She says her life has completely changed since the accident.

“Before I could live alone. Now I need someone to be living with me.”

Doing simple tasks is difficult.

“Everything is very different. I used to be very active and played volleyball and table tennis. Now I cant because I cant run. I can’t do any sports. Now I’m always at home. I

can’t go [out] alone. I also can’t commute or travel alone, especially in the Philippines.”

In December last year, a judge granted AT Dh600,000 in compensation.

“I don’t know if its a crazy amount but I think I deserve a million,” she said. “I didn’t chose that this happen to me and like anyone who has gone through something like this, I want a better life. My parents tell me that I should be grateful and if I were in the Philippines, Id be getting nothing.”

salnuwais@thenational.ae

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The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

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MATCH INFO

Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')

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Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)

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Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

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Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

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