Mumbai: A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in the city has directed a truck owner and an insurance company to pay Rs 24 lakh in compensation to a 48-year-old woman who lost her young son in a road accident in 2015.
On 10 September, 2015, applicant Chhaya Sonawane’s son Vaibhav Sonawane, 23, who worked as an Engineer-cum-Installer of Tata Sky Dish TV was proceeding on his motorcycle on the old Mumbai - Pune highway when the fateful incident took place. His bike was hit from the rear by a truck. He fell and the heavy vehicle went over both his feet. He was being rushed to YCM hospital in Pimpri, Pune, but died on the way.
The deceased’s mother claimed a compensation of Rs. 30 lakhs with 12 percent yearly interest. The company which had insured the truck - Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. had denied her claim and stated to the tribunal that the mishap took place due to sole negligence of the deceased. It also contended that he did not possess a valid driving licence at the time. The truck owner did not appear before the tribunal.
The mother deposed before the tribunal and produced documentary evidence in the form of police papers. Tribunal member KR Joglekar said in his judgment that these clearly show that only due to rash and negligent driving of the offending truck by its driver the accident occurred resulting in the death of the deceased. The tribunal said further that no contrary evidence is brought on record by the insurance company to discredit the version. Therefore, it said, that it is proved that the deceased died due to negligence of the driver of the truck and there is no negligence at all of the deceased.
