The Supreme Court of India has ruled that insurance companies are not obligated to pay compensation to victims who die due to 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, 2018, while driving at high speed and breaking traffic rules. The accident occurred when Ravisha’s car toppled over and rolled on the road near Mylanahalli Gate, Arasikere, resulting in his death.
Ravisha’s wife and son claimed compensation of Rs 80 lakh, citing that the deceased was a busy contractor who earned Rs 3 lakh per month. However, the police chargesheet filed in the case stated that Ravisha’s rash and negligent driving was the reason behind his death. The Motor Accident Tribunal rejected the claim, and the Karnataka High Court also dismissed the compensation claim on November 23 last year.
The Supreme Court, comprising Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan, upheld the Karnataka High Court’s decision, stating that the family cannot demand compensation as the death was caused by Ravisha’s own negligence and did not involve any extraneous factors. The court denied compensation to the wife, son, and parents of the victim, ruling that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation in such cases.
This ruling sets a precedent for similar cases, emphasizing that insurance companies are not responsible for paying compensation when the accident is caused by the victim’s own rash and negligent driving. The court’s decision is based on the principle that the victim’s actions were the sole cause of the accident, and therefore, the insurance company is not obligated to pay compensation. The ruling will likely have implications for future cases involving rash and negligent driving, and will provide clarity on the liability of insurance companies in such cases.