Passenger ferry firm compensates driver injured in vehicle hold

His initial request for €15,694 was reduced by a third by the Balearic Island Provincial Court.

The claimant was in the hold of a passenger ferry heading from Palma de Mallorca for Valencia in 2012, and was following the crew's instructions as he parked his lorry.

But when he got out of his cabin, he was struck by the trailer of another lorry whose driver was parking – again in accordance with the crew's directions – and became trapped between this and his own vehicle.

His injuries left him in hospital for six days and he was off work for longer still as his fracture mended.

The Provincial Court partially upheld his claim against Trasmediterránea for its crew having 'failed in its duty of care', but issued a verdict of 'contributory negligence' on the part of the plaintiff amounting to two-thirds of the fault for the incident.

To this end, his compensation request was reduced in line with his own 'negligence' as defined by the court.

Trasmediterránea operates daily crossings from Spain's east coast to the Balearic Islands – typically several times a day in either direction in summer and a few times a week in autumn, winter and spring.

Its latest venture – daily crossings between Gandia, in the south of the province of Valencia, to the island of Ibiza – proved so successful over the summer that the former's town council has decided to continue running them year-round.

Foot-passenger tickets, and even those for passengers with cars, are surprisingly cheap, although depending upon ferry times and ports of origin, not all crossings are suitable for day-trippers and visitors may have to factor in an overnight stay.

Photograph by the Balearic Provincial Court (APB)