2 days ago
Of 102 hit-&-run compensation claims filed in Gurgaon, only 2 settled in 3 years
Gurgaon: In three years, 102 claims have been filed by families or victims of hit-and-run accidents, of which compensation has been disbursed for only two of them.
Two cases are in the final stages of processing, and the remaining – 98 – are still being investigated by police.
This slow pace of resolution has left families of accident victims in the lurch, with some waiting for years after they applied for aid under the 2022 Hit-and-Run Motor Accident Compensation scheme.
The scheme, which falls under Section 161 of the
Motor Vehicles Act
, came into effect from April 1, 2022.
It offers Rs 2 lakh as compensation in cases of fatalities, and Rs 50,000 for serious injuries.
The scheme is only applicable for hit-and-run accidents, in which police have not been able to identify the errant driver or vehicle.
Sunita, a city resident whose husband died in a hit-and-run accident on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway this year, told TOI she has been waiting for compensation for months. Her husband was the only earning member of the family.
"My husband was returning home after work on a cycle when he was hit by an unknown vehicle. After his death, I started working as domestic help to support my family," she said, adding that compensation will help her pay for her kids' education.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
The issue of delayed resolutions also came up at a district road safety committee meeting, chaired by Gurgaon deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar, earlier this week.
"The regional transport authority (RTA) secretary has been directed to expedite the data collection process, ensuring that claims are processed swiftly and efficiently. The goal is to provide timely financial assistance to victims, alleviating some of the burdens they face in the wake of these tragic incidents," the DC had said, directing all involved agencies to expedite the process.
According to the norms, a hit-and-run accident victim or a victim's family can apply for compensation under the scheme before the sub-divisional magistrate. They have to submit a death certificate, post-mortem report, or hospital treatment documents as proof.
But the scheme does not specify any timeline for completion of police inquiry, which delays a decision on the claim.
Accidents aren't uncommon on city roads, particularly the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, or NH-8.
Last year, Gurgaon recorded 1,026 road accidents that led to 428 fatalities. Around 44% of the accidents were on national highways in the city, and the largest chunk of fatalities involved two-wheelers, traffic police data showed.
In accident cases in which the errant driver/vehicle has been identified, victims and their families can approach the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) and file a case to seek compensation.
The tribunal, after hearing both sides, determines the amount of compensation that may be paid to accident victims or their families. In many cases, the company that insured the errant driver's vehicle is asked to provide compensation.
