Washerman who lost leg in road accident awarded Rs 16.57 lakh

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal directed HDFC ERGO General Insurance company, with which the offending bus was insured, to pay Rs 16,57,000 to Dilshad Garden resident Raju Kanojia.

"Petitioner (Raju) was able to prove that the accident was caused due to rash and negligent driving of the bus driver," MACT Judge Shalinder Kaur said.

The court said the medical reports of the 32-year-old victim showed he had undergone two surgeries for amputation of his left leg after the accident.

It noted, in its order, that during the first surgery, his left leg was amputated below knee and subsequently it had to be amputated above the knee.

Raju told the court that the mishap took place barely a few meters away from his home at Dilshad Garden on August 9, 2010 evening when he was walking back home. The bus was being driven by Sushil Kumar.

The victim said as he fell down his leg came under the wheels of the bus and he was taken to a nearby hospital where he had to undergo two surgeries and eventually lost his leg.

The court fixed Rs 16.57 lakh compensation for Raju, taking into account his monthly income of Rs 12,000 which he used to earn as a washerman but which he was now deprived of after loosing his leg.