Ambala, 2 March: Nearly nine years after a 28-year-old man died in a road accident in Ambala, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded his family ₹18.34 lakh in compensation.
The victim, Kuldeep Singh of Bhita village in Barara tehsil, ran a canteen at a fabric factory in Shahbad and a dairy in his village. On April 18, 2016, while returning home from work around 7:30 pm, his vehicle was struck by a speeding car on Kesari Bhita road, causing it to crash into a tree. The car’s driver fled the scene, and Kuldeep succumbed to his injuries at General Hospital, Ambala.
In September 2021, Kuldeep’s wife Seema Devi, their two children, and his 74-year-old mother approached MACT, stating he earned ₹30,000 per month. The claim named car driver Manish Kumar of Ambala, owner Narinder Singh of Karnal, and United India Insurance Company as respondents.
During the hearing, the driver and owner failed to appear and were proceeded against ex parte. The insurer contested the claim but was held liable. The tribunal ruled that the offending vehicle was insured with United India Insurance Company at the time of the accident, and no policy violations were proven.
“All respondents are jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation, and the insurance company shall indemnify the insured,” the tribunal stated, directing the payout with 7.5% annual interest.
