Accident damages

A motor accident claims tribunal has awarded a compensation of Rs.30.57 lakh to a man who lost his eyesight after injuries in a road accident with an autorickshaw last year.

 

The tribunal’s presiding officer, Gurvinder Pal Singh, has directed IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Ltd to pay the amount to Bali Ram Singh, holding the autorickshaw driver negligent for the accident.

 

A driver behind the wheels of a mechanically propelled vehicle is duty-bound to observe necessary precautions to avoid hitting other vehicles, persons and the users of a road.

 

Having failed to observe such duty and having struck the motorcycle of the petitioner, causing him grievous injuries. Rohtash (the driver) was thus negligent, the court said.

 

It asked the insurance firm to disburse the amount within 30 days as the autorickshaw was insured with it.

While computing the compensation, the court took into account the fact that the 46-year-old victim, who was employed as an assistant supervisor with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, became 100 percent visually handicapped after suffering injuries in his eyes and forehead.

 

                                                                      Published in The Insurance Times, September 2010