Serbia and railway company ordered to pay for emotional distress in canopy collapse case

A court in Novi Sad has ordered the state and the railway infrastructure company to pay compensation for emotional distress to another family whose loved one died in the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station.

The Higher Court in Novi Sad ruled that the company Infrastruktura železnice Srbije and the Republic of Serbia must jointly pay plaintiff N.Ć. 10 million dinars in compensation for non-material damages. Additionally, they must pay 500,000 dinars for the fear experienced due to the incident.

The defendants are also obligated to pay statutory default interest from the date of the verdict, July 3, 2026, until the payment is made. This payment must be completed within 15 days of the verdict becoming legally binding, under threat of enforcement.

This ruling follows the tragic incident on November 1, last year, when the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station resulted in the deaths of 16 people and severe injuries to one individual, leaving them with a permanent disability. The court rejected the plaintiff's claim for damages beyond the awarded amounts. Both parties have the right to appeal the decision to the Appellate Court in Novi Sad.