Rash driving: Kin of man killed in accident get over 17 lakh

The family members of a man, who died in an accident involving a rashly driven motorcycle, have been awarded a compensation of over Rs 17 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.
The tribunal directed United India Insurance Company Ltd, with which the motorcycle was insured, to pay Rs 17,47,600 to the wife and two sons of Murari Lal, who had died in the accident in February last year.
"It is also settled law that the term rashness and negligence have to be construed lightly while making a decision on a petition for claim for the same as compared to the word rashness and negligence as finds mention in the Indian Penal Code.

"... Therefore, after considering all the documents filed by the petitioners (Murari's family) as a whole it is clear that respondent No 1 (driver of motorcycle) was driving the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner," MACT Presiding Officer Sanjeev Kumar Singh said.
The family members of 59-year-old Murari, a resident of Delhi, told the tribunal that the accident took place on February 9, 2013 while he was crossing the road near Delhi Secretariat, Vikas Marg, the rashly and negligently driven motorcycle hit him.
Due to the impact, he fell down and sustained grievous injuries, they said. After spending three days in hospital Murari died during the course of treatment.

The driver and the owner of the motorcycle, in their written statements, denied the rash and negligent aspect and also termed the contents of the petition to be false.