Court grants Rs 11 lakh to accident victim

A 31-year-old man, who suffered 100 per cent loss of functional ability after he was hit by a rashly driven car, has been awarded Rs 11.30 lakh compensation by a motor accident claims tribunal here.

The tribunal told ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd, with which the offending vehicle was insured, to pay Rs 11,30,207 to Chander Pal of south Delhi.

The order came on Pal’s complaint, which said he was hit by a rashly-driven Maruti WagonR on November 26, 2009 night as he was riding his bicycle back home at Pul Prahladpur near Saket.

He said he received injuries in the accident and was taken to AIIMS trauma centre, where he was admitted for three days and later shifted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.

The tribunal awarded the compensation after a medical expert deposed before it that his condition is not likely to improve and he has been rendered incapable of doing any job.
“Sufficient material has been placed on record to prove negligence on the part of the driver in causing the accident,” said tribunal presiding officer Nirja Bhatia.

“I am of the view that he has suffered 100 per cent loss of functional ability as not only his mental capacity, but also his physical capacity is diminished due to suffering from uncontrolled seizures. Despite adequate medication, his chances of finding any probable employment is nil,” said the presiding officer said.

The owner of the car, Ram Lachhin, said he had been falsely implicated in the case and the car driver Pradeep Tiwari said he was not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.