€55k settlement for child run over by car while playing on footpath

Car mounted the footpath and drove over the girl who was trapped underneath, court hears

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable. File picture

A girl who was run over by a car as she was playing with her doll on a footpath has settled a High Court action for €55,000.

Sunaminta Munteanu Covaciu was only five years of age when the accident happened in Balbriggan, north county Dublin, eight years ago.

Her counsel, David Kennedy, told the High Court that the car mounted the footpath and drove over the girl who was trapped underneath.

He said that miraculously, the child only sustained soft tissue injuries, bruising, and is left with some scarring.

The accident occurred at Glebe Crescent, Balbriggan, on May 29, 2018 as the driver was parking the car.

Sunamita, now 13, from Balbriggan, Dublin, had, through her father Romulus Munteanu, sued the driver and owner Faith Okoebor Obokhasebhor, with an address care of her insurance company, AXA Insurance, in Dublin city.

In the proceedings it was claimed that the car was caused to collide and roll over the child, trapping her, and that a manoeuvre had been executed when it was wholly unsafe to do so.

An emergency had been created from which the child had no opportunity of escaping, it was claimed.

There was also a failure to keep any, or any adequate and proper, lookout and a failure to drive the car at a speed at which the vehicle could be brought to a halt to avoid the accident, it was claimed.

Liability was admitted in the case.

Counsel told the court that following the incident, the girl suffered anxiety and nightmares and had a fear crossing the road.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable. 

The judge said he was delighted the girl had made a full recovery and he wished her all the best for the future.