Traffic Accident Compensation in Oman: Your Rights and How to Claim

Anyone injured or harmed in a traffic accident in Oman is entitled to compensation for the loss suffered, whether physical or material, under the rule of civil liability in the Civil Transactions Law, Royal Decree 29/2013, claimed from the party at fault and from the insurer. Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates (SIA), based in Al Khoudh, Muscat, pursues traffic accident compensation claims before the courts of Oman.

What should you do first after the accident?

The first step is to report the accident to the Royal Oman Police as soon as it happens. The police report is the cornerstone of any claim: it records the time, place, and parties of the accident and sets out the share of fault attributed to each side. Also document the damage with photographs and obtain medical reports if there are injuries, as these are the basis for assessing compensation later.

Do not sign any settlement or release with the other party or the insurer before the full extent of the damage is assessed, because some effects, especially physical ones, may only appear after a while, and a hasty release can forfeit a right that has not yet been quantified.

What does the compensation cover, and how is it assessed?

Compensation in Omani law makes good the actual loss, and includes, as the case requires:

• Repair costs, or the value of the vehicle if it is a total loss, and other material damage.
• Medical expenses, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Compensation for permanent or partial disability and for earnings lost through time off work.
• Compensation for moral damage in the cases the courts recognise.

The court appoints experts where needed to assess the value of the loss, and the judgment rests on three elements: fault, damage, and the causal link between them, taking into account each party’s share in causing the accident.

What is the role of insurance and blood money in fatal accidents?

Motor insurance is compulsory in Oman, and a third-party policy covers liability toward those harmed within the limits of the policy, so the insurer is often claimed against directly. Even so, the injured party may still pursue the party at fault for anything beyond the insurance cover.

In fatal accidents, alongside civil liability, the Sharia blood money (diyya) is due to the heirs of the deceased, and the party at fault may also face criminal liability where a fault causing injury or death is attributed to them, under the Penal Code issued by Royal Decree 7/2018. A civil claim may therefore run in parallel with the blood money and criminal liability, depending on the circumstances of the accident.

Key facts

• Traffic accident compensation in Oman rests on civil liability in the Civil Transactions Law, Royal Decree 29/2013.
• The Royal Oman Police report is the core document that fixes fault and grounds the compensation.
• Motor insurance is compulsory, and the insurer is claimed against directly within the policy limits.
• Compensation covers material damage, medical expenses, disability, lost earnings, and moral damage.
• In fatal accidents, blood money is due to the heirs, and criminal liability may arise under the Penal Code RD 7/2018.
• Do not sign a release before the full damage is assessed, as it may forfeit a right not yet apparent.

When to involve a lawyer

Involve a lawyer when injuries are serious or permanent, when the parties dispute the share of fault, when the insurer offers a settlement that seems less than your due, or when the party at fault or their insurer refuses to pay. Assessing fair compensation and running the case before the court take an expertise the injured party cannot manage alone under the strain of the accident.

At Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates (SIA) we handle traffic accident claims: we gather the evidence and reports, claim against insurers and those at fault, and bring and plead cases before the courts across Oman through to enforcement. The first consultation is free by phone or WhatsApp on +968 9706 3030. We are based in Al Khoudh, Seeb, Muscat, and work Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, in Arabic and English.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice.