A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Delhi has directed an insurance company to pay over ₹34.9 lakh in compensation to the family of a 28-year-old man who lost his life in a road accident involving a speeding truck in 2019.
Presiding Officer Vijay Kumar Jha, in an order passed on January 21, held that the accident, which occurred near Sikandarpur Cut in the Bhopura area of Ghaziabad on November 8, 2019, was the result of rash and negligent driving by the truck driver.
The deceased, identified as Asif, was riding a motorcycle when he was hit from behind by the offending truck. He sustained critical injuries and later succumbed during treatment at a hospital. Citing medical records, the tribunal noted that Asif died due to shock and hemorrhage caused by multiple injuries.
The tribunal relied on eyewitness accounts, the post-mortem report, and police case records to conclude that the truck driver was entirely at fault. It also rejected the insurance company’s contention that the vehicle involved in the crash was not the one insured under its policy.
“The record of the criminal case, post-mortem report, and testimonies clearly establish that the accident was a direct result of the truck driver’s negligence,” the tribunal stated.
Noting that the truck was duly insured at the time of the incident, the tribunal held the insurer liable to pay the awarded compensation. The court directed the company to deposit the full amount within 30 days.
The compensation was calculated under various statutory heads, including loss of dependency, funeral expenses, and loss of love and affection.
The decision brings a measure of relief to the deceased’s family, more than four years after the fatal incident.
