The Supreme Court of India has ruled that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation to the family of a driver who dies in an accident caused by their own rash and negligent driving. This decision was made in a case where a man, N S Ravisha, died in a car accident on June 18, 2014, while driving at high speed and violating traffic rules. His family, who claimed he was earning Rs 3 lakh per month as a contractor, sought Rs 80 lakh in compensation from United India Insurance Company.
However, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal rejected their petition, citing the police charge sheet that concluded the accident was caused by Ravisha’s rash and negligent driving. The Karnataka High Court upheld this decision, stating that the claimants must prove the deceased was not responsible for the accident and that they would be covered under the policy.
The Supreme Court endorsed the High Court’s view, saying that if death is caused by the deceased’s own mistake without any external factors, the insurance company is not liable to pay compensation. In this case, the accident occurred due to Ravisha’s rash and negligent driving, and therefore, his legal heirs cannot claim compensation for his death.
The court’s decision emphasizes that insurance companies are not responsible for paying compensation in cases where the accident is caused by the policyholder’s own reckless behavior. This ruling may have implications for similar cases in the future, where families of deceased drivers may not be able to claim compensation if the accident was caused by the driver’s own negligence.
The Supreme Court’s decision is based on the principle that insurance companies should not be held liable for accidents caused by the policyholder’s own actions. This ruling highlights the importance of responsible driving and the need for drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations to prevent accidents. The court’s decision also emphasizes that families of deceased drivers cannot claim compensation if the accident was caused by the driver’s own negligence, regardless of their income or occupation.