The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane awarded Rs 20.9 lakh to a tailor and Rs 7.7 lakh to a domestic help who sustained permanent disabilities in a 2018 bus-trailer collision in Gujarat’s Valsad district
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The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has awarded a compensation of Rs 20.9 lakh to a woman tailor and Rs 7.7 lakh to a domestic help for permanent disabilities sustained in an accident in 2018.
As reported by news agency PTI, the tailor suffered 80 per cent permanent disability after paralysis of both her lower limbs. However, the MACT pegged her functional disability at 50 per cent, noting that contemporary electric sewing machines may be operated using hands and elbows.
While passing the orders on Monday, MACT member RV Mohite directed the offending trailer truck's insurer to pay the compensation amounts at the first instance and subsequently recover them from the vehicle owner due to a "wilful breach" of insurance terms, reported PTI.
The incident occurred earlier on April 24, 2018, when Ratna Vijay Bhagwat (44), a domestic help, and Sayali Vijay Salunkhe (35), a tailor, were travelling in a luxury bus.
Accident in Gujarat killed 2
After reaching near a bridge in the Valsad district of neighbouring Gujarat, the bus crashed into the rear side of a trailer parked on the first track of a national highway without any signal, light or indication. While two bus drivers died in the collision, several passengers were severely injured.
Furthermore, Mohite observed that the accident was a case of "composite negligence".
The tribunal’s order noted, “The trailer was parked negligently on the highway, making it invisible to the bus driver. The trailer also lacked a valid fitness certificate on the date of the accident, constituting a breach of policy conditions, as per PTI.
Salunkhe suffered 80 per cent permanent disability, as both her lower limbs were paralysed. Following the accident, MACT assessed her functional disability at 50 per cent, noting that modern electric sewing machines can be operated with hands and elbows. Furthermore, she was awarded Rs 20,92,510 as compensation, including Rs 1.5 lakh for future medical expenses.
On the other hand, Bhagwat suffered 51 per cent permanent partial disability due to lumbar region injuries. Assessing her functional disability at 30 per cent, the tribunal awarded her compensation of Rs 7,75,653.
The tribunal ordered the compensation amounts to be paid with 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the petition. It also directed that Rs 2 lakh for Bhagwat and Rs 3 lakh for Salunkhe be kept in fixed deposits.
(With inputs from PTI)
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