The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane awarded a compensation of Rs 76.3 lakh to the family of a 39-year-old man who lost his life in a car accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway in February 2020.
The order was delivered last week by S. B. Agrawal, Chairman of MACT Thane. The claimants are the widow, two minor children, and mother of the deceased, against the car owner and insurance company.
According to the court documents, the fatal accident occurred on February 22, 2020, when the deceased was travelling in a car that crashed into the wall of a tunnel on the expressway. The tribunal found that the accident was caused by the driver’s rash and negligent driving. Kusam, who was 39 years old at the time of his death, worked for a financial services company and earned a monthly salary of Rs 40,000.
The tribunal used this as the basis for calculating the compensation, factoring in future prospects, loss of income, and other considerations. The compensation amount is to be paid jointly by the car owner and the insurance company.
The tribunal ordered that portions of the compensation be kept in fixed deposits for the benefit of the deceased’s family members, with specific amounts allocated to the widow, children, and mother.
The tribunal, in its order, pointed out that from the evidence of the petitioners, especially the police papers, it is apparent that the accident was caused due to the negligence of the driver of the vehicle owned by the opposite party. As far as the contention of the insurer is concerned, there is no evidence to show that the driver of the offending vehicle was not having a valid driving licence or permit or committed any breach of the terms and conditions of the policy. As such, the respondents are liable to pay compensation to the petitioners.
