Chennai: The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chennai has directed a private insurance firm to pay a compensation of Rs 16.42 lakh to the family members of a 20-year old supervisor, who died in a road accident at Sriperumbudur four years ago.
In the petition, R. Narayanan of Ramapuram, Ambattur submitted that his son N. Manikandan, 20, was working as a supervisor in a private firm and earning a salary of Rs 15,000 per month. On June 29, 2014 at 2.30 am Manikandan was travelling in a tanker lorry belonging to Kavya Travels Private Ltd, Poonamalle along with two employees.
The lorry driver drove the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner endangering public safety. As a result the vehicle dashed against the centre median near Sriperumbudur. On the impact, the lorry capsized. Manikandan fell down from the lorry and was crushed to death on the spot. Sriperumpudur Police had registered case against driver of tanker lorry under sections 279 and 304 of IPC.
Narayanan said his family members depended on the income of Manikandan. After his death the family members were facing hardship. He sought direction to Kavya Travels, owner of the vehicle and Cholamandalam General Insurance Co, Ltd, insurer of the lorry, to pay a compensation of '20 lakh to the family members.
The management of Kavya Travels did not appear before the Tribunal and was set as ex-parte. In its reply, Cholamandalam General Insurance Co., Ltd denied all the allegations made in the claim petition.
On completion of trial, Judge Small Causes court-IV, A Ramesh said that the Tribunal is of the opinion that the accident took place only due to the negligence of the driver. Manikandan had sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot.
Due to the death of Manikandan, his family members would have suffered a lot and the same cannot be compensated in terms of money. The Tribunal directed the Insurance firm to pay a compensation of '16.42 lakh to Narayanan and his family members along with an interest of 7.5 per cent per annum April 2015.
