Youth disabled in road accident gets over Rs 10 L compensation

A 19-year-old youth, who was disabled in a road accident involving a rashly driven bus, has been awarded a compensation of over Rs 10 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.
The tribunal directed New India Assurance Company, insurer of the offending bus, to pay Rs 10,31,847 to Sonu, a resident of south Delhi, who suffered grievous injuries after falling from a bus due to negligence of its driver in 2008.
"His (Sonu's) version is duly corroborated by police investigation...As no contrary evidence came against the petitioner, it stands proved that he had suffered injuries due to rash and negligent driving of the driver," MACT Presiding Officer Ajay Kumar Jain said.

The tribunal, while awarding the compensation, also relied on the medical report of Sonu which declared that he suffered 51 per cent temporary disability with respect to vision, speech, hearing and mental disability.
"Though the petitioner is found to have suffered temporary disability, it does not mean that he has not suffered any permanent disability.
"He is under treatment for last six years and in these circumstances he will definitely remain sufferer of permanent disability. Petitioner with this disability will not be able to do daily activities effectively," the tribunal noted.

According to the petition, on the evening of December 15, 2008, Sonu was going home in a bus and while de-boarding it, the driver drove in a rash and negligent manner due to which Sonu fell down and was dragged with the bus for some distance.

He suffered multiple injuries and was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre.
The tribunal rejected the contention of the driver, owner and insurer of the bus that Sonu had fallen down and sustained injuries due to his own negligence.