Thane Tribunal Awards Rs 63.8 Lakh to Family of Store Manager Killed in 2018 Crash

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Thane has rejected an insurer's plea and awarded Rs 63.8 lakh in compensation to the family of a 34-year-old store manager who lost his life after a speeding truck rammed into the motorcycle he was riding on the Nashik-Mumbai Highway in 2018.

MACT member R V Mohite issued the order on Friday, directing the truck owner, Rajaram R Gupta, and the insurer, Shri Ram General Insurance Co. Ltd., to jointly and severally pay the compensation sum to the victim's family. In addition to the principal amount of Rs 63.8 lakh, the tribunal ordered the respondents to pay interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum, calculated from the date the claim petition was filed in 2018 until the entire amount is realised.

According to the petition, the fatal road accident took place on June 4, 2018. The 34-year-old victim, who was employed as a store manager, was travelling as a pillion rider on a motorcycle along the Nashik-Mumbai Highway when a speeding truck rammed into the two-wheeler.

The victim sustained severe injuries as a result of the high-speed collision. He was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries days later.

Following his death, a petition was filed in the tribunal in 2018 seeking financial compensation from the truck owner and the insurance firm. The insurer, Shri Ram General Insurance Co. Ltd., submitted a plea contesting the claim, but the tribunal rejected the insurer's arguments.

Ruling on the matter, tribunal member R V Mohite held both truck owner Rajaram R Gupta and Shri Ram General Insurance Co. Ltd. jointly and severally liable, fixing the final compensation at Rs 63.8 lakh along with the applicable interest.