2014 Autorickshaw Accident: Thane MACT Awards Compensation To Woman

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra’s Thane district adjudicated a compensation claim, awarding Rs 11.15 lakh to Shamim Iqbal Sheth, a former hospital administrator who sustained debilitating injuries in an autorickshaw collision in 2014.

Presiding officer S. B. Agrawal issued the ruling on February 12, with the official order being made publicly available on a subsequent date.

Case records indicate that on October 28, 2014, Sheth was a passenger in an autorickshaw that collided with a car near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park flyover. The autorickshaw driver, allegedly operating the vehicle in a reckless and negligent manner, was deemed culpable for the accident.

Sheth suffered grievous injuries necessitating three surgical interventions, ultimately resulting in partial disability in her left lower limb. This impairment led to the termination of her employment as a receptionist-cum-administrator at a hospital, where she previously earned a monthly salary of Rs 18,500.

The tribunal ascertained the autorickshaw driver’s liability in causing the accident. Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd, the insurer of the vehicle, contested the compensation claim, asserting that the driver lacked a valid driving licence.

However, the court determined that both the vehicle owner and the insurance provider bore joint and several liability for the damages incurred.

While recognizing the physical and occupational repercussions faced by Sheth, Chairman Agrawal concluded that her disability would not substantially diminish her prospective earning capacity. Accordingly, the tribunal mandated that the compensation be disbursed at an annual interest rate of 7.5% from the date of petition filing until full payment is effected.

This verdict underscores the critical role of judicial oversight in ensuring accountability in vehicular negligence cases and reaffirms the obligations of insurance entities in facilitating equitable restitution for accident victims.

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