Thane: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded Rs 20 lakh compensation to an accident victim after a nine-year legal battle, decisively rejecting the insurance company’s claim that the policy was fraudulent. In the ruling, MACT member Rupali V Mohite addressed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act concerning a Nov 27, 2015, accident on Louiswadi service road near Mumbai-Nashik highway.Then aged 29 years, the victim was standing on the service road when a speeding motorcycle struck him at 9.05am. He sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his jaw, face, and left leg, plus head trauma. He spent over a month at a Super Specialty Hospital in Thane undergoing extensive treatment. Police filed charges against the motorcyclist under the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act.The MACT determined the accident resulted solely from the motorcyclist’s negligence, with no contributory fault by the victim. Crucially, while the insurer claimed the policy was fake and fabricated, the tribunal found the company failed to provide sufficient evidence supporting this allegation and rejected the defense. Assessing 15% functional disability, the MACT calculated compensation covering medical expenses, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and conveyance costs, totalling Rs 20.04 lakh. The vehicle owner and insurer were ordered to pay jointly within one month. Of the total award, Rs 3 lakh must be invested in a three-year fixed deposit, with the remainder released immediately to the claimant. — Nishikant Karlikar
