Snake bite kills guard on duty; widow and son awarded $50,000
Dubai: Jordan’s Court of Cassation has brought a years-long legal dispute to a close by upholding compensation for the wife and young son of a security guard who died after being bitten by a snake while working at a project in a desert area. The Amman Court of First Instance had ordered the defendant to pay 36,000 Jordanian dinars, or about $50,000, to the guard’s heirs, including 27,000 dinars…
In an unfortunate turn of events in Dubai, a security guard who died after being bitten by a snake while on duty has brought a prolonged legal battle to a close. The Court of Cassation has affirmed compensation for the guard's widow and 23-year-old son, ordering the defendant to pay 36,000 Jordanian dinars, roughly $50,000. This sum included 27,000 dinars to his wife and 9,000 dinars to his minor child, along with court costs, legal fees, and an additional 9% interest annually from the date the lawsuit was filed until its full payment.
The tragic incident occurred on August 2, 2019, when the guard, believed to be around 32 years old, suffered the snake bite while working at a project site located in a desert area. His family contended that the site's location in a high-risk area for snakes and reptiles, coupled with inadequate accommodation and safety measures, directly contributed to his untimely demise.
The family's claim sought damages for the financial, emotional, psychological, and social harm caused by the guard's death, as well as compensation for the loss of income, given that he was the primary provider for his wife and son. The defendant, however, contested the notion of a consistent employment relationship and suggested that his own negligence could have played a role.
They also questioned whether the snake bite had caused his death days later. After undergoing a series of medical assessments, a panel of doctors confirmed that the guard exhibited symptoms and complications consistent with poisoning from a venomous snake bite. Tests revealed severe disruption to blood clotting and a significant decrease in platelet levels, followed by a rapid deterioration in vital organ function.
He also experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation, a severe condition that impairs the body's ability to control blood clotting. Ultimately, the courts reaffirmed the defendant's liability and the compensation awarded to the guard's family.
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