Thane, March 28 The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane district of Maharashtra has awarded a compensation of ₹33.9 lakh to the family of a 40-year-old man who died in a motorcycle accident in 2021.
MACT member R V Mohite held the driver of a tempo, who crashed into the victim's motorcycle, solely responsible for the accident and ordered the owner and insurer of the vehicle to jointly and severally pay the compensation, along with interest of 9 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the petition till realisation.
A copy of the order passed on March 20 was made available on Friday.
The victim, Hemant Krushnakant Vedpathak, an employee of a private firm, was killed in an accident on June 3, 2021, on the Kalyan-Murbad Road.
The tribunal noted that Vedpathak was riding his motorcycle when a tempo driven in a rash and negligent manner crashed into the two-wheeler, causing fatal injuries to the victim.
"The offending tempo came from the opposite direction at high speed, in a rash and negligent manner, left its lane and went towards the wrong side and crashed into the motorcycle of the deceased," it said.
It held that the tempo driver was the person who had the last opportunity to avoid the accident, and pointed out that there was nothing on record to show any contributory act on the part of the deceased.
The tribunal also rejected the insurer's contention regarding breach of policy condition, stating, "From evidence on record, it is proved that the driver of the offending vehicle was holding a valid and effective driving licence as well as a valid fitness certificate and permit to ply the vehicle. There is no breach of the terms and conditions of the policy."
Out of the total compensation of ₹33.9 lakh, the tribunal awarded ₹23.9 lakh to the victim's wife and ₹10 lakh to his minor daughter, with a portion of the amount to be kept in fixed deposits as per directions.
