The Supreme Court of India has ruled that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation to the kin of drivers who die due to their own reckless or negligent driving. The court dismissed a claim petition filed by the family of a man who died in a car accident while driving at high speed and performing daredevil stunts. The family had demanded Rs 80 lakh in compensation from United India Insurance Company.
The incident occurred on June 18, 2014, when N S Ravisha was driving a Fiat Linea from Mallasandra village to Arasikere town with his family members as co-passengers. He drove rashly and broke traffic rules, losing control of the vehicle, which toppled over and rolled on the road. Ravisha succumbed to his injuries, and his family claimed compensation, stating that he was a busy contractor earning Rs 3 lakh per month.
However, the police filed a chargesheet blaming Ravisha’s rash and negligent driving for the accident. The Motor Accident Tribunal rejected the family’s claim, and the Karnataka High Court upheld the decision, stating that the family could not claim compensation when the accident was caused by the deceased’s own mistake. The High Court added that it is necessary to prove that the deceased was not responsible for the accident and that they were covered under the policy to make the insurance company liable.
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan, agreed with the High Court’s decision, stating that family members cannot demand an insurance payout when death is caused due to a mistake on the part of the deceased without any extraneous factors. The court’s ruling sends a strong message to speed addicts and those who engage in reckless driving, emphasizing that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation in such cases. The family’s claim for Rs 80 lakh in compensation was rejected, and the insurance company was not held liable for the payment.