Court awards Rs 38.8 lakh compensation to kin of 22-year-old crash victim

Hyderabad: The city civil court, under motor accident claims has awarded a compensation of 38.8 lakh to the family of 22-year-old Sanjana Dooda, who died in a road accident near Madhuranagar on Feb 3, 2023.According to the case, Sanjana was crossing the road near Madhuranagar with her cousin when a speeding car, driven under the influence of alcohol, hit her. She suffered severe injuries and succumbed after a few days of treatment in hospital.For Sanjana's family, the tragedy was devastating. A native of Jagtial district, she had moved to Hyderabad to support her widowed mother, two sisters, and a brother. Working at a finance firm, she earned over Rs 26,000 a month and had become the family's sole breadwinner. The family argued that Sanjana's loss has left them struggling emotionally and financially.The court, after examining witness testimonies, police reports, and salary documents, held that the driver, 24-year-old Viraj Madhav Reddy, was intoxicated and driving rashly at the time of the collision. It awarded Rs 36.5 lakh for loss of dependency, along with compensation for loss of consortium, estate, and funeral expenses, bringing the total to Rs 38.8 lakh.The insurance company was directed to deposit the amount with 9% annual interest from the date of filing and later recover it from the driver and vehicle owner. Each of the four petitioners will initially receive Rs 4 lakh, while the remaining compensation will be placed in fixed deposits.