Govt makes mobile number mandatory for insurance claims on road accidents to avoid fraud

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The road ministry said it has issued a notification mandating the procedure for detailed investigation of road accidents, the preparation of detailed accident reports (DARs), and their reporting, as well as timelines for different stakeholders in order for the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal to settle claims quickly (MACT).

The ministry, in a statement, further said the incorporation of validated mobile numbers in the certificate of vehicle insurance has also been made mandatory. The new rules will come into force from April 1, 2022.

According to the notification, immediately on receipt of the information of a road accident, the investigating officer of police shall inspect the site of the accident, take photographs of the accident scene and the vehicle(s) involved in the accident and prepare a site plan.

"In injury cases, the investigating officer (IO) shall also take the photographs of the injured in the hospital", the notification said, adding that the IO shall conduct spot enquiry by examining the eyewitnesses/ bystanders.

MoRTH has issued notification mandating the procedure for detailed investigation of road accidents, the Detailed Accident Report (DAR) and its reporting, along with timelines for different stakeholders, for quick settlements of claims by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT). — MORTHINDIA (@MORTHIndia) March 3, 2022

As per the notification, the investigating officer shall intimate the accident to the claims tribunal within 48 hours of the accident by submitting the first accident report (FAR) in Form I. 

If the particulars of the insurance policy are available, the intimation of the accident in Form I shall also be given to the Nodal Officer of the concerned insurance company of the offending vehicle, it said.

It added that a copy of Form I shall also be provided to the victim(s), the state legal services authority, insurer and shall also be uploaded on the website of state police, if available.

The notification said "the IO should furnish the description of the rights of victim(s) of road accidents to the victim(s), or their legal representatives, within ten days of the accident." The IO shall also file a copy of Form II and the DAR, it added.

The investigating officer shall provide a blank copy of Form III to the driver of the vehicle(s) involved in the accident, and the driver shall furnish the relevant information in Form III to the investigating officer within thirty (30) days of the accident.

While in case of any minor child/children of the victim(s) of the accident, the notification said the IO should provide blank Form-VIA to the victim(s), who shall fill up the relevant information/attach the relevant documents and submit the same to the investigating officer within 60 days of the accident.

"After that, the IO shall send the copy of the victim's Form-VI and VIA along with DAR to Child Welfare Committee within 30 days of receiving the aforesaid Form-VI and VIA from the victim(s)", it added.

According to the notification, the committee shall ascertain if the child needs care and protection as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. 

With inputs from PTI