A Delhi motor accident claims tribunal has awarded a compensation of more than Rs 31.4 lakh to a 51-year-old physical education teacher who suffered permanent disability in a 2023 road accident that claimed the life of his wife.
Presiding Officer Gunjan Gupta ruled in an order dated June 12 that the crash was caused by the rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle’s driver, Ankit Goel. The tribunal ordered a total payout of Rs 31,41,854, carrying an annual interest rate of 9 percent from the date the claim petition was filed until the final payment is made.
Details of the 2023 Crash
The incident occurred on January 26, 2023, near the Shivaji Park Metro Station in west Delhi. The claimant, Dalbir Singh, was driving toward the New Delhi Railway Station with his wife Suman, their son, and another passenger.
Their vehicle was struck from behind at high speed by Goel’s car, causing Singh’s vehicle to crash directly into a metro pillar. While Singh survived with severe trauma, his wife sustained fatal injuries in the collision.
Assessment of Disability and Damages
Singh, who earns Rs 25,290 per month as a physical education teacher, sustained a 65 percent permanent locomotor disability in his right lower limb. Considering the physical demands of his profession, the tribunal assessed his functional disability at 50 percent.
The awarded sum covers several categories, including loss of future earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, loss of amenities, attendant charges, and expenses for a special diet.
Tribunal Rejects Defense Arguments
The tribunal dismissed Goel’s defense, noting that the charge sheet, mechanical inspection reports, and witness testimonies conclusively established his negligent driving. It added that the driver’s account of the accident was inconsistent and conflicted with both the physical evidence and his own statements during the legal proceedings.
The tribunal also rejected an argument by the insurance company, which sought to be freed from liability by claiming that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. While medical records indicated a smell of alcohol on Goel, the court pointed out that no breath analyzer or blood tests were conducted to prove that his alcohol levels exceeded the legal limits set by the Motor Vehicles Act.
