Lucky Accident: Man Wins Lawsuit Against Municipality After Ditch Mishap
Driver Yasin C went into a ditch and had an accident while driving on July 7, 2023. However, he won the lawsuit he filed against the municipality for the damages caused by the accident.
Yasin C was driving from Buhara Street towards Sincan Road when he entered a pit in an area where road work was being done. There was no warning sign, and a bucket full of concrete was placed there. The accident caused damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage, engine, and auxiliary parts, as well as material damage due to the deployment of the airbag.
Yasin C, through his lawyer Ceren Atalay, filed a lawsuit at Ankara West 3rd Civil Court of First Instance claiming that the accident occurred due to the insufficient precautions taken by the municipality. He sought compensation for the loss of value, vehicle deprivation, repair, and towing fees.
The lawyer representing Ankara Metropolitan Municipality argued that the accident was not caused by the municipality, but rather the fault of the vehicle driver. However, in the expert report included in the case file, it was determined that the municipality was primarily at fault for not fulfilling its obligations in road maintenance and safety.
The court ruled in favor of Yasin C, holding Ankara Metropolitan Municipality primarily responsible for the accident. Yasin C was awarded a total of 110,223 Turkish liras in compensation for actual damages, loss of vehicle value, vehicle deprivation, and tow truck fees.
Lawyer Ceren Atalay emphasized that the expert reports clearly showed the municipality’s fault and failure to comply with the relevant laws. She stated that the municipality’s negligence endangered the safety of citizens’ lives and property.
