Israeli National Transport Company Ordered to Pay Quarter Million Shekels to Injured Scooter Rider

The Haifa Magistrate's Court has ruled that Netivei Israel, the National Transport Infrastructure Company, must pay approximately 216,000 shekels to a scooter rider severely injured after hitting a series of potholes on Road 70 in December 2020. The rider, then around 40 years old, lost control of his scooter due to the road defects, resulting in serious injuries and a 25-day hospitalization. Despite the rider lacking valid mandatory insurance at the time, the court held Netivei Israel responsible for failing to maintain the road properly.

Judge Tali Mirum criticized Netivei Israel for neglecting the road's maintenance, describing the potholes as a "persistent defect" rather than a sudden occurrence. The court noted that the company did not take adequate measures such as marking or blocking the hazardous sections, which could have prevented the accident. The company had denied responsibility, attributing the accident to the rider's alleged reckless driving and failure to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

The court emphasized Netivei Israel's duty as a government entity to ensure road safety and found that the company had not seriously addressed the pothole problem, which included deep asphalt peeling creating dangerous gaps, especially for two-wheeled vehicles. The court also assigned 25% contributory negligence to the rider for not keeping a safe distance, which might have allowed him to avoid the potholes.

The final compensation amount was reduced from an estimated 531,000 shekels in damages after deducting social security benefits and the rider's contributory fault. The court also ordered Netivei Israel to cover 20% of the rider's legal fees and full court costs. Attorney Batal Manor, representing the rider, stated the verdict sends a clear message to infrastructure bodies about the importance of road safety for two-wheeled vehicle users. Netivei Israel did not respond to requests for comment.