Rs 20.5 lakh awarded to wife and son of elderly killed in car collision in Maharashtra

Thane: A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a compensation of Rs 20.5 lakh to the family of a 74-year-old businessman, who died in a car collision in Palghar district in 2022. The accident occurred on Nov 22, 2022, when the victim, Ganesh Gopal Chaudhari, was travelling in a car from Vikramgad in Palghar district toward Nashik, and a speeding four-wheeler collided with his vehicle in the ghat section. Chaudhari sustained serious injuries and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital the same day. The tribunal noted that the driver of the offending car failed to judge the bend, came in at high and excessive speed and crashed into the victim's vehicle. It also dismissed the insurer's contention that the driver lacked a valid licence.MACT member R V Mohite directed the owner of the offending vehicle and the insurer to jointly and severally pay the compensation with 9% interest per annum from the date of the petition. A copy of the order dated March 25 was made available on Saturday. The tribunal assessed the deceased's annual income at Rs 5.9 lakh based on his income tax returns and ordered that Rs 13.5 lakh be paid to his wife and Rs 7 lakh to his son.