Crane runs over 60-year-old man's leg; Court awards Rs 44.82 L compensation

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NEW DELHI: A 60-year-old man, who lost his leg after a rashly driven crane ran over it, has been awarded a compensation of Rs 44.82 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here, considering that he suffered 80 percent permanent disability.

MACT Presiding Officer Raj Kumar Chauhan directed IFFCO?TOKIO General Insurance Company Ltd, the insurer of the offending crane, to pay Rs 44,82,200 to Ashok Kumar, whose leg had to be amputated after it was crushed by the negligently driven vehicle last year.

The tribunal, while awarding the compensation to Ashok, a security guard in a private company, considered that the injury suffered by him was serious and his condition was not likely to improve.

"The condition of the petitioner is nonprogressive and not likely to improve... Petitioner has suffered above knee amputation of a left leg. Due to the present injuries his entire carrier is ruined.

It is natural that with this disability and injuries the petitioner entire future career/earning capacity has been destroyed," it said.

While deciding the petition in favour of Ashok, the tribunal also relied on various documents including FIR, charge sheet, the medical report of the victim and mechanical inspection report of the crane.

According to the petition, on August 2, 2017, at around 6 pm the petitioner was walking near NBCC building in south Delhi's Okhla area when the crane, driven in a negligent manner, hit?him from behind.

Due to the impact, Ashok fell down and the crane then ran over his left leg which led to its amputation and 80 percent permanent disability, it said.

During the proceedings, the driver and the owner of the crane did not file their reply nor did they lead any evidence.

The insurance company, however, offered Rs one lakh to the victim to settle the matter, which was turned down by him.