A compensation claim stemming from a 2018 road accident in Thane has been dismissed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT). The tribunal ruled that the injured claimant failed to establish a crucial legal requirement: proving that the other rider involved was driving rashly or negligently.
Why the Claim Was Dismissed by the Tribunal
The core of the tribunal's order centered on the lack of evidence to support the allegation of negligence. The applicant, who suffered head injuries and later presented a medical certificate indicating partial permanent disability, could not substantiate his claim that the crash was caused by the other two-wheeler rider.
The accident reportedly occurred on Happy Valley Road near a local hospital, leading to the claimant's hospitalization for several days. However, the tribunal highlighted a significant gap in the case: no First Information Report (FIR) or formal police complaint was ever submitted to show the other rider was at fault.
The order noted that the claimant provided no explanation for this absence, which the court found improbable if the accident was truly caused by another person's negligent driving.
Evidence Pointed to Claimant's Own Actions
Further weakening the case, a police witness statement presented during proceedings suggested a different sequence of events. The statement indicated that the collision happened when the claimant's scooter suddenly moved into the path of the other vehicle.
This account implied that the claimant himself may have been responsible for the accident. The tribunal observed that the allegation of high-speed, negligent riding by the other party remained an uncorroborated assertion, lacking any independent evidence for support.
The Legal Requirement of Proven Negligence
While the tribunal accepted the medical findings regarding the claimant's disability, it firmly held that compensation cannot be awarded under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act without proven negligence by the opposite party.
This decision underscores a fundamental principle in motor accident claims: the burden of proof lies with the claimant to demonstrate that the other driver's rash or negligent act directly caused the accident and resulting injuries. In this instance, that burden was not met, leading to the dismissal of the claim.
