The Chennai Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has directed IndusInd General Insurance Company to pay ₹30.69 lakh in compensation to the family of a 55-year-old woman who died after being hit by a car owned by YouTuber Irfan near Maraimalai Nagar in 2023, as reported in Dinamalar.
The deceased, identified as Padmavathi, a resident of Maraimalai Nagar in Chengalpattu district, was walking near the Maraimalai Nagar Municipality office at around 8.30 pm on 25 May 2023, when she was allegedly hit by a luxury car coming from the opposite direction.
According to the case, the car was being driven at high speed and in a negligent manner. Padmavathi sustained fatal injuries and died at the spot.
Following her death, her family approached the Chennai Motor Accident Claims Tribunal seeking compensation.
The case was heard by Judge A.P. Nasheer Ali. During the proceedings, the insurance company argued that Padmavathi had attempted to cross the road negligently and that this had resulted in the accident.
The insurance company also argued that the person driving the car at the time of the accident did not possess a valid driving licence and sought exemption from paying the compensation.
The tribunal rejected these arguments.
Based on the documents submitted before the court and the First Information Report (FIR), the tribunal held that the negligence of the car driver was established as the cause of the accident.
The tribunal also noted that the insurance company had not produced evidence to establish that Padmavathi had negligently attempted to cross the road and thereby caused the accident.
On the issue of the driver’s licence, the tribunal held that the absence of a valid driving licence by itself did not absolve the insurance company of its liability to pay compensation to the victim’s family.
The tribunal directed the insurance company to pay the compensation first and recover the amount from Irfan, the owner of the car, subsequently.
The tribunal noted that Padmavathi had been working at a private hospital and awarded compensation taking into account factors including the loss of future income.
The tribunal directed IndusInd General Insurance Company to pay ₹30.69 lakh to the claimant within 30 days.
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