Uninsured motorcycle passenger awarded 4.6 million shekels after severe accident
Following a fatal motorcycle accident where the driver was killed, the young passenger was left with permanent disabilities. The court ordered the Karinit fund and the National Insurance Institute to pay 4.6 million shekels in compensation, as the passenger was unaware the motorcycle lacked mandatory insurance.
A few days ago, the Central District Court awarded 4.6 million shekels in compensation to a young man who suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident. The lawsuit was filed against Karinit, the fund responsible for compensating road accident victims when the vehicle involved lacks mandatory insurance.
According to the claim filed by attorney Gilad Ginzburg, the accident occurred in 2022 when Yaron (a pseudonym), then 19, was a passenger on an intercity road. The driver lost control, resulting in a fatal crash. The young passenger sustained severe multi-system trauma. Rescue teams found him conscious but suffering from critical limb injuries, requiring urgent evacuation and intensive trauma care.
In the hospital, doctors diagnosed a femur fracture, shattered pelvic fractures, an ankle fracture, and other severe injuries. Yaron underwent multiple complex surgeries performed by surgical and orthopedic teams, followed by months of intensive wound care and rehabilitation.
Because the motorcycle was uninsured, the claim was directed at Karinit. During the proceedings, Yaron successfully demonstrated that he was unaware—and had no reason to be aware—that the motorcycle lacked mandatory insurance, a critical factor in his legal eligibility for compensation.
Court-appointed medical experts determined that Yaron’s weighted medical disability stands at 100%. Due to the combination of orthopedic, urological, proctological, and psychiatric injuries, he has lost his ability to work and requires ongoing assistance. Before the accident, he was a healthy individual at the start of his professional life; now, he remains unable to return to work or studies.
The final compensation of 4.6 million shekels consists of 3.1 million shekels from Karinit and 1.5 million shekels to be paid by the National Insurance Institute as a monthly disability pension. The calculation accounted for past and future loss of earnings, medical expenses, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering.
Attorney Gilad Ginzburg stated:
"This is a young man whose life changed completely in an instant. The accident left him with severe and irreversible injuries in almost every area of his life. The awarded compensation reflects the severity of the injury and the need to ensure him treatment and assistance throughout his life. Unfortunately, many motorcycle riders fail to obtain mandatory insurance, leaving themselves and their passengers without protection. I urge everyone, without exception, to insure their motorcycles."
