A Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal in Delhi has directed Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd to pay Rs 66.89 lakh in compensation to the kin of a 27-year-old motorcyclist who died after being struck by a truck in Gurugram.
In an order issued on September 3, presiding officer Vikram established that the fatal collision occurred due to rash and negligent driving by the truck driver. The tribunal instructed the insurance company to deposit the entire sum within 30 days, accompanied by nine per cent annual interest calculated from the date the petition was filed.
Details Of The Fatal Collision
The crash took place on the night of December 6, 2023, when the victim, Ramakant Sharma, was traveling home on his motorcycle from Sector 18 in Gurugram. An oncoming truck struck his two-wheeler from behind, inflicting severe injuries.
Sharma was initially taken to local medical centres in Gurugram before being transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. He succumbed to his injuries on December 8, 2023. An autopsy subsequently attributed his death to cranio-cerebral damage sustained from blunt force trauma.
Assessment Of Compensation And Payouts
The claim was filed jointly by Sharma’s five dependents: his wife, two daughters, mother, and father. Factoring in his monthly earnings of Rs 29,800, the tribunal calculated the total loss of dependency at Rs 63.83 lakh. Additional compensation granted for funeral costs, estate loss, and loss of consortium brought the aggregate award to Rs 66.89 lakh.
The tribunal ordered the compensation to be apportioned among all five family members, directing that an initial portion be released immediately and the balance placed into fixed deposit accounts.
Permit Violation And Recovery Rights
The tribunal also noted that the commercial vehicle lacked a valid operating permit at the time of the incident. Consequently, the presiding officer granted Oriental Insurance the right to recover the full payout from the truck’s owner and driver after fulfilling the payment to the victim’s family.
