Karnataka High Court Overturns Tribunal, Awards Rs 25 Lakh in Fatal Accident Case
The Karnataka High Court has modified a tribunal's award, granting enhanced compensation of approximately Rs 25 lakh to the family of a driver who died in a tragic accident in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, in August 2022. The court's decision came after the family challenged an earlier verdict that had attributed partial negligence to the deceased.
Details of the Accident and Initial Tribunal Ruling
On August 21, 2022, at around 12:30 AM, P Ramesh, a 36-year-old driver, was involved in a fatal collision on a national highway near Empedu Eswaraiah Colony in Srikalahasthi Mandal. His car hit a tractor that was parked in the middle of the road without any indicators or warning signals. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Bengaluru, in its ruling on February 6, 2024, awarded Rs 18.1 lakh in compensation to Ramesh's family but stated that the deceased contributed 40% to the accident through his own negligence. Dissatisfied with this outcome, the family sought a higher compensation of Rs 40 lakh and appealed the verdict.
High Court's Analysis and Ruling
Justice P Sree Sudha of the Karnataka High Court carefully reviewed the case materials and noted critical facts. The judge emphasized that parking trucks on national highways is strictly prohibited under road regulations. Given the accident occurred late at night, Ramesh was unable to see the parked vehicle, leading to the collision. Justice Sree Sudha observed, "The negligence was on the part of the tractor driver who parked in the middle of the road, and not Ramesh, who was driving the car. The contributory negligence fixed at 40% was done without proper appreciation of the facts and has been set aside." This ruling effectively overturned the tribunal's finding of contributory negligence.
Compensation Calculation and Final Award
In determining the compensation amount, the court addressed discrepancies in the claimant's submissions. Although the family claimed Ramesh earned Rs 25,000 per month, no concrete income proof was provided. Consequently, the court relied on the notional income chart from the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, setting his monthly income at Rs 15,500. Based on this calculation, the High Court awarded a total compensation of Rs 24,93,000 to Ramesh's family, along with 6% interest from the date of the claim petition. This enhanced award reflects the court's commitment to ensuring fair restitution for victims of road accidents caused by negligence.
The ruling underscores the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and highlights the legal recourse available for families affected by such incidents. It serves as a reminder of the judiciary's role in correcting errors in lower court judgments to deliver justice.
