Car Accident Kills Qatari Runner on Eve of Tokyo Olympics

Car Accident Kills Qatari Runner on Eve of Tokyo Olympics

Jan 3, 2023

A Qatari sprinter who won the bronze medal in the 400-meter race at the 2017 world championships died Saturday in a car accident. The Qatar Olympic Committee confirmed that Abdalelah Haroun, who was born in Sudan and became eligible to represent the nation in 2015, perished tragically in a traffic collision that took place in Doha, the country’s capital.

Following news of Haroun’s death, the Olympic Council of Asia tweeted, “Gone too soon. The Olympic Council of Asia is shocked to hear the news of the double Asian Games gold medalist, late Abdalelah Haroun’s sudden death. May his soul rest in peace. More strength to his family and loved ones.”

No further details related to the circumstances of the fatal motor vehicle collision have been released at this time.

Haroun entered the athletics world stage in 2015, breaking the Asian indoor record in the 400-meter at the XL Galan with a time of 45.39 seconds.

He became the world’s junior 400-meter champion in 2016, and competed at the Rio Olympics that same year, reaching the semifinals and winning the silver medal in the 2016 IAAFF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon.

Haroun’s most notable achievement came at the 2017 World Championships in London, where he finished third behind Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and Bahamian Steven Gardiner to win the bronze medal at the age of 20.

“It is a very special moment for my country,” Haroun said at the time, “and an honor to take the bronze medal with me.”

Haroun holds the national record in the 400-meter with a best of 44.07 seconds (achieved in 2018). He also won two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, taking the 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay titles in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Haroun suffered a torn hip tendon, resulting in his failure to make it beyond the heats at the 2019 World Championships in Doha (in his home country of Qatar). But he was reportedly rehabilitated and preparing to compete in the delayed 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

His last official race result was 47.22 seconds as an invited runner in the 400-meter competition at the Turkish Championships in September 2020.

Motor Vehicle Crashes Around the World

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 1.3 million people die annually as a result of car accidents. Additionally, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.

More than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low and middle-income countries – with the highest fatality rates occurring in the African region, according to the WHO. However, while low and middle-income nations account for 93% of road traffic fatalities, these countries only comprise approximately 60% of the world’s vehicles.

Road traffic deaths cost nations roughly 3% of their gross domestic product. Accordingly, the United Nations General Assembly has set an ambitious goal of reducing the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes in half by 2030. While that target may seem quixotic to cynics, the UN General Assembly vows to work diligently over the next nine years to help ensure road traffic injuries and fatalities are dramatically reduced.

Can I Sue for Financial Compensation After a Car Accident?

Car accidents can leave victims with serious injuries that lead to mounting medical expenses, required hospital care, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more. When a car accident occurs as a result of another driver’s negligence or error, you as the injured victim should not be responsible for covering the aforementioned expenses out-of-pocket.

By filing a personal injury civil lawsuit, car accident victims can pursue financial compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic losses suffered as a result of the crash.

Examples of some economic damages that may be recoverable after a car accident include:

• Hospital bills
• Medical expenses
• Ambulance transportation expenses
• Rehabilitation/physical therapy expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

Examples of some non-economic damages that may be recoverable after a car accident include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Psychological injuries
• Reduced quality of life

At Dordulian Law Group (DLG), we pursue all applicable damages – both economic and non-economic – on behalf of injured car accident victims. With former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian, on your side, you can be confident that your car accident claim will lead to a maximum financial damages award, allowing you to make a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.

With DLG’s unique advantages for car accident victims, every client can have peace of mind knowing that their claim is in good hands and will never be settled for a quick lowball amount benefitting the insurance company or at-fault driver. We’ll fight to recover the financial compensation you deserve for all applicable damages following your car accident – regardless of the severity.

At DLG, we understand the importance of recovering evidence in car accident cases. That’s why we employ an in-house private investigator who handles every claim.

Retired LAPD Central Traffic Division Detective, Moses Castillo, investigates every DLG motor vehicle accident, working to uncover (and recover) any evidence that will help support your claim and increase your ultimate financial damages award.

Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert car accident attorneys.

When a car accident happens, your world can be turned upside down. While you’re recovering from your injuries, you shouldn’t be faced with increased stress or the burden of haggling with the at-fault party’s insurance company over medical expenses. Let the DLG car accident experts to handle your claim so you can focus on what’s most important – your physical recovery and overall well-being.

Contact us today online or by phone at 818-322-4056 to learn more about what makes DLG the absolute best car accident law firm in California. With a 98% success record and history of recovering more than $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for our clients, DLG is the firm you can trust in your time of need following an untimely car accident.

After a car accident injury, the most important call you can make is to DLG.