Rash driving: Rs 20 lakh compensation for injured man

A 34-year-old man, who suffered grievous injuries after being hit by a rashly driven car, has been awarded a compensation of around Rs 20 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.
The tribunal directed the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs 19,74,200 to south Delhi resident Rakesh Kumar, who suffered 100 per cent disability after being hit by the offending vehicle in 2012.
"I am of the view that the accident had occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the car... Resulting injuries on the person of Rakesh Kumar...
"In the present case, the petitioner (Kumar) has suffered permanent disability involving his spine due to which he is unable to sit for long, his neck movements are restricted, his limbs are not properly working," MACT presiding member Naveen Arora said.

The court noted Kumar had suffered head and spinal cord injuries, abrasions, brain contusion and vertebral fracture.
According to Kumar's petition, a negligently driven car had hit the autorickshaw which he was driving on May 30, 2012, in south Delhi area.

Due to the impact, he fell down and also sustained fracture in his abdomen and other injuries on his body. He was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre and an FIR was registered in this regard.
Kumar had filed the petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, saying that he was an auto rickshaw driver and was earning Rs 15,000 per month. He had claimed a compensation of Rs 15 lakh.

The driver and the owner of the offending car, however, denied the allegations and stated that they were not liable to pay anything. They claimed that the accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of the victim. The insurance firm, however, admitted that the vehicle was insured with it.