Morocco: He is injured in a hammam, he receives 140,000 dirhams

The facts, judged on July 22 last, concern a user who suffered injuries of varying severity following a fall in a traditional Moorish bath. The victim brought a civil lawsuit to obtain compensation for the damage suffered. Faced with the request, the insurance company pleaded the accidental nature of the incident, qualifying the incident as a "personal slip" to exonerate the owner of any responsibility.

The court rejected this argument after ordering a technical expert assessment. The report concluded that the establishment’s administration was responsible. The judges considered that the operator is legally required to ensure adequate safety conditions, including rigorous maintenance of the floors to eliminate slippery substances. The lack of maintenance was identified as the direct cause of the accident.

This decision, which transforms an entry ticket of 15 dirhams into compensation of 140,000 dirhams, reminds the entire profession to order. It requires hammam owners to comply with professional safety standards, under penalty of heavy financial penalties in the event of bodily harm occurring on their premises.