Chennai: The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chennai, directed a private insurance firm to pay compensation of ` 26 lakh to parents of a
23-year-old driver who died in an accident. A speeding tanker lorry ran over him in R K Nagar three years ago.
In their petition A. Balakrishnan and B. Rajeswari submitted that their 23-year old son was working as a driver and earning a salary of ` 21, 000 per month.
On August 11, 2016, at about 12.30 pm, Hari was proceeding on a two-wheeler as a pillion rider. When the bike reached a place near RK Nagar police station, a tanker lorry driven in a rash and negligent manner hit the two-wheeler. As a result the rider and his son were thrown out from the vehicle. Hari sustained fatal injuries and died on the way to hospital.
A case was registered against the lorry driver and a chargesheet filed against him for causing the mishap.
They said that R. Keerthivasan, owner of the vehicle and Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the vehicle, are vicariously and statutorily liable to pay compensation of ` 60 lakh to them.
In its reply, the insurance firm stated that Hari was responsible for the accident as he drove the vehicle without observing traffic rules and regulation and invited the accident.
The judge, Small Causes Court-II, S. Umamaheswari, considered oral and documentary evidences and stated that the accident occurred only due to the rash driving and negligence of the tanker lorry driver. The petitioners are entitled for a sum of ` 26,45,000 as compensation and Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd, being the insurer of the vehicle is liable to pay compensation to the petitioners.
