The family, friends and relatives of the injured moved fast and raised SR30,000. The second hospital accepted the patient on condition that the remaining amount of SR20,000 would be paid soon.

Many private hospitals insist they receive a large down payment before they start treating people injured in car accidents for fear that insurance companies may delay the payment or that the patients might occupy their hospital beds for a long time.

Arab News took this case to Dr. Sami Badawood, director of health affairs in Jeddah. He said citizens or expatriates injured in road accidents and subjected to such demands by private hospitals should approach him immediately. “Foreigners with such complaints should come and see me. We will force the hospital to reimburse the money and to treat the patient without asking him to make any deposit,” he said.

Badawood said the department usually follows up cases of car accidents in which people are injured until it is confirmed that they received the medical attention they were entitled to.

He explained that Saudis who have no insurance would be transported by the Red Crescent to the nearest government hospital.

“If the government hospital does not have the necessary facilities, the injured shall be taken to any of the well-equipped private hospitals and the department will bear the expenses,” he said.

According to Badawood, private hospitals are obliged to admit foreigners injured in car accidents as all cars are insured.

On its part, the directorate general of traffic made it clear that it was very strict in applying the system of insurance to all vehicles. It said under traffic rules and regulations, cars shall not be registered and licenses shall not be renewed if a recognized insurance company does not insure a car against damage to others. “No car without a valid insurance policy shall be registered,” it added.

The directorate also said the insurance companies were responsible for the comprehensive coverage of the civil responsibility resulting from death or injury in addition to other material damages resulting from car accidents.

It made clear that all the insurance companies should pay any compensation within 15 days. “The companies are not allowed to make any deductions from the amount of the insurance,” it said warning the insurance companies against delay or slackness in clearing claims.