Tribunal awards ₹41 lakh as compensation to man disabled by road accident

Chennai: A restaurant employee, who suffered 90% permanent disability in a road accident, has been awarded Rs 41.14 lakh compensation by the Chennai Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal.The tribunal directed IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company to pay Rs 41,14,722 to Hakkeem, a resident of Sitharkottai in Ramanathapuram district, holding that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the lorry driver.According to the claim petition, the accident took place in December, 2022, when Hakkeem was travelling with a friend on a two-wheeler from Ambattur towards Red Hills. The lorry moving ahead allegedly took a sudden right turn without giving any signal, causing the two-wheeler to ram into the vehicle.Hakkeem was grievously injured. Though he underwent treatment and returned home, he was unable to continue his work owing to the severe disability. He moved the tribunal seeking Rs 40 lakh compensation.Hearing the case, tribunal judge K Sujatha noted that the lorry driver did not possess a valid driving licence at the time of the accident. The tribunal also recorded that Hakkeem had suffered 90% disability and held the lorry driver responsible for the mishap due to overspeeding, negligence and careless driving.