Pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage after falling on the road - court orders compensation
The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court ruled that the Zemer Local Council and the telecommunications company Bezeq are liable for an incident that led to a pregnant woman's miscarriage. The court apportioned 80% of the liability to the council and 20% to Bezeq.
The Magistrate's Court in Tel Aviv-Yafo has ruled that a woman who lost her fetus in an advanced stage of pregnancy due to a fall is entitled to 185,000 shekels in compensation. The court found both the Zemer Local Council and the telecommunications company Bezeq liable for the negligence that caused the accident.
The incident was caused by a height discrepancy between the road surface and a Bezeq communication shaft cover. The plaintiff, who was crossing the road, tripped and fell, resulting in a premature placental abruption.
The Incident
In January 2021, the plaintiff, an Arabic language teacher, was walking in the village of Yama, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Zemer council. Her pregnancy had been progressing normally until the fall. Three days later, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain, and five days after the incident, doctors at the hospital confirmed the loss of the fetus.
Court Findings
The court rejected the defendants' attempts to evade responsibility, noting that both parties were negligent in maintaining the area. The Zemer Local Council had argued that the shaft was under Bezeq's exclusive control, while Bezeq claimed the council had paved the road around the shaft multiple times without proper coordination or leveling.
The court's apportionment of liability:
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Zemer Local Council — 80% (for failing to coordinate road works and maintain safety).
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Bezeq — 20% (for the state of the communication shaft).
The judge also attributed 10% contributory negligence to the plaintiff.
Plaintiff's attorney, Adv. Wassim Omar, stated: "This verdict offers only small comfort for the irreversible loss the young woman has suffered. While we welcome the court's recognition of the defendants' liability, we believe the compensation does not sufficiently reflect the magnitude of this tragedy. We are working to file an appeal to the District Court to increase the awarded amount."
