Daijiworld Media Network - Thane
Thane, Mar 6: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has awarded compensation of nearly Rs 46.6 lakh to the family of a man who died in a road accident in Palghar district nearly nine years ago.
The tribunal held the driver of a truck responsible for the fatal crash and directed the insurance company to pay the compensation to the victim’s family.
According to the tribunal order, the accident occurred on May 13, 2017, around 8 am on the Gorhaphata–Kanchadphata road near Sai Devaligaon in Wada taluka. The victim was travelling in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) when a truck coming from the opposite direction at high speed allegedly rammed into the vehicle head-on.
The impact of the collision left the victim with severe injuries, including head trauma, and he later succumbed to the injuries. Several other occupants of the SUV were also injured in the accident. Police subsequently registered a case and filed a chargesheet against the truck driver.
During the hearing, the tribunal examined documents including the FIR, spot panchanama, post-mortem report and other investigation records. Based on the evidence, it concluded that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving by the truck driver.
Evidence presented before the tribunal showed that the deceased was working as an operator in a private company and his family was dependent on his income. After assessing his earnings, age and number of dependents, the tribunal calculated the compensation payable to the claimants.
The tribunal also noted that the truck driver did not possess a valid licence to drive transport vehicles at the time of the accident, which constituted a breach of the insurance policy conditions.
However, following legal principles in third-party motor accident claims, the tribunal directed the insurance company to deposit the compensation amount with 9% annual interest from the date of filing the petition. The insurer has been granted the liberty to recover the amount later from the owner of the truck through appropriate legal proceedings.
The compensation amount will be distributed among the deceased’s dependents as per the tribunal’s order.