A Delhi court awarded a compensation of Rs.14.3 lakh to an accident victim who suffered 80 per cent permanent disability in his lower limbs after an accident involving a motorcycle and bus in 2013. The victim was 17-years-old at the time of the accident.
However, the court deducted Rs. 4.29 lakh from the compensation amount, saying that the victim — who was a minor at the time of the accident — was also responsible for the accident as he was riding the motorcycle without a valid licence. The actual compensation now stands at Rs. 10.1 lakh.
A speeding bus had hit the motorcycle from behind and run over the victim’s leg. One of his friends, who was on the pillion, sustained minor injuries. Back then, the victim was working as an electrician.
The court issued directions to the insurance company, which the offending vehicle was insured with, the right to recover the compensation amount from the driver of the bus as he was not carrying a valid driving licence at the time of the accident.
However, the court directed the insurance company to first hand out the compensation amount to the victim.
The victim, Chanderdeep Kumar, had demanded a compensation of Rs. 20 lakh stating that he was unable to work after the accident.
According to his petition, the bus had hit the motorcycle when the victim was driving home from the Badarpur metro station. The bus had run over his leg, the petition said.