Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Thane awards Rs 46.55 lakh compensation in 2017 fatal truck crash case

Thane: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane awarded nearly Rs 46.6 lakh compensation to the family of a man who died in a road accident in Palghar district nearly nine years ago. The tribunal held the driver of a truck responsible for the fatal crash and directed the insurance company to pay the compensation to the victim's family.According to the tribunal order, the accident occurred on May 13, 2017, around 8am, on Gorhaphata–Kanchadphata road near Sai Devaligaon in Wada taluka. The victim was travelling in an SUV when a truck coming from the opposite direction at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner crashed into the vehicle from the front. The impact of the collision caused severe injuries to the victim, including head injuries, and he later succumbed to them. Several other occupants of the SUV were also injured in the accident. Police registered an offence and filed a chargesheet against the truck driver.
During the hearing, the tribunal examined documents including the FIR, spot panchanama, post-mortem report, and other investigation records. It concluded that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the truck driver.Evidence placed before the tribunal showed that the deceased was employed as an operator in a private company and his family depended on his income. After assessing his earnings, age, and the number of dependents, the tribunal calculated the compensation payable to the claimants.The tribunal also noted that the truck driver did not possess a valid licence to drive transport vehicles at the time of the accident, which amounted to a breach of insurance policy conditions.However, following established legal principles in third-party motor accident claims, the tribunal directed the insurance company to first deposit the compensation amount with 9% annual interest from the date of filing of the petition. The insurer was granted liberty to subsequently recover the amount from the owner of the truck through appropriate legal proceedings.The compensation will be distributed among the deceased's dependents in accordance with the tribunal's order.