Scooter Accident Lawsuit in Kadıköy: Municipality Official Found 'Partially Negligent' in Fatal Fall

A legal case is proceeding in Istanbul following the death of Hasan Çayan Çimen, who succumbed to his injuries 45 days after falling into a pothole while riding his electric scooter in Kadıköy on October 13, 2023. The Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has prepared an indictment concerning the incident.

Çimen lost his balance after his scooter hit a pothole approximately 5 centimeters deep near a manhole cover as he was returning home. He sustained a head injury and passed away at the hospital on November 27, 2023. The indictment states that his death resulted from complications of blunt force trauma.

An expert report prepared as part of the investigation concluded that the incident could have been prevented if necessary measures had been taken. The report designated the municipal official responsible for the asphalt work and its management on the street where the incident occurred as "partially negligent." Çimen, who was found to be intoxicated at the time of the accident, was deemed "primarily negligent."

The official in question, identified as C.Ö.A., who was the Director of Technical Affairs at the Kadıköy Municipality at the time, stated in his deposition that no defects were found in the materials or techniques used in the asphalt work. He claimed he had not been notified of any issues and that the sinking around the manhole cover due to aging was normal, thus not accepting blame.

C.Ö.A. is now facing charges of "causing death by negligence." He is scheduled to appear before the Istanbul Anadolu 45th Criminal Court of First Instance on October 13.

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I do not accept the accusation.