The Supreme Court of India has delivered a significant judgment regarding deaths caused by negligent or reckless driving.
The court ruled that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation to the family of a deceased if the death was a direct result of the driver’s own negligence or stunt driving.
Supreme Court bench rejects compensation plea
A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice R Mahadevan delivered the ruling while dismissing a plea filed by the family of a man who died in a car accident allegedly caused by his own reckless driving.
The deceased’s wife, son, and parents had approached the court seeking compensation from United India Insurance Company.
The 2014 accident and the family’s claim
The incident occurred on June 18, 2014, when NS Ravisha was driving a Fiat Linea from Mallasandra village to Arasikere.
His father, sister, and child were also in the car.
Ravisha was reportedly driving at a high speed and violated traffic rules, eventually losing control of the vehicle, which overturned.
After his death, Ravisha’s family filed a claim for Rs 80 lakh (approximately USD 96,000) from the insurance company, stating that Ravisha was a successful contractor earning nearly Rs 3 lakh per month.
The police charge sheet submitted in the case confirmed that the accident occurred due to Ravisha’s negligent driving.
Based on this, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) dismissed the family’s compensation claim, ruling that the accident was caused by the deceased’s own fault.
High Court and Supreme Court uphold lower court rulings
The family then challenged the decision in the Karnataka High Court, arguing that the accident occurred due to a burst tyre, not reckless driving.
However, the High Court upheld the earlier ruling, stating that the accident was a result of negligent driving, not mechanical failure.
Eventually, the family moved the Supreme Court, which also rejected their plea and reaffirmed the principle that insurance benefits cannot be claimed if the insured person’s own actions led to their death.
Key takeaway from the judgment
The Supreme Court emphasised that if a person dies due to their own negligence while driving, their family members cannot seek compensation from the insurance company.
This verdict sets a precedent, highlighting the importance of responsible driving and clearly defining the limits of insurance liability in such cases.
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