The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra’s Thane district has awarded Rs 62.19 lakh in compensation to the family of a 39-year-old man who died in a road accident involving a milk tanker in 2019.
MACT member R.V. Mohite ordered the tanker owner and The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. to jointly and severally pay the compensation with 9 per cent interest from the date of the petition. The tribunal’s order, passed on September 11, became available to the public on Sunday, according to the news agency PTI.
The deceased was driving his car on the Kalyan-Nagar Highway on September 10, 2019, when a speeding milk tanker veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with his vehicle. The impact caused his car to spin and hit another vehicle. The tanker driver fled the scene. The victim was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The victim’s family, represented by a lawyer, had initially sought Rs 1 crore in compensation, arguing that the accident occurred due to the tanker driver’s gross negligence.
The insurer, represented by a lawyer, contested the claim, alleging that the tanker driver lacked a valid license and permit, and also accused the deceased of contributory negligence. However, the tribunal dismissed the insurance company`s policy breach argument, citing a lack of proof, as per the news agency PTI.
While holding the tanker primarily responsible, the tribunal found contributory negligence on the part of the deceased. It apportioned 80 per cent fault to the tanker driver and 20 per cent to the deceased for compensation assessment.
The final amount was calculated based on the victim’s annual income, prospects, and standard deductions for personal expenses.
One dead, two injured in auto-rickshaw collision with water tanker in Thane
A man was killed and two others were seriously injured after an auto-rickshaw rammed into a stationary water tanker in Thane late on Sunday night, officials said.
The incident took place around 11:59 pm near Cadbury Junction on the service road connecting Nitin Company to the Eastern Express Highway in Thane West, according to the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell.
A Bajaj Ape rickshaw (MH-03 DS-3036) collided with a parked water tanker (MH-04 CU-7728), leaving three passengers trapped inside the vehicle. Following the crash, teams from the fire brigade, city traffic police, and the Disaster Management Cell rushed to the spot with a fire engine, rescue vehicle, and other support equipment.
(With PTI inputs)
