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A bad driver won’t get full damages: SC
SC says that careless drivers will be held responsible for “contributory negligence” even if they end up being victims in accidents, reports Bhadra Sinha.
If your car gets banged on the road because you were driving badly, don’t expect unconditional sympathy from the law — even if it is you who has suffered.
Careless drivers will be held responsible for “contributory negligence” even if they end up being victims in accidents, the Supreme Court has said. The court upheld an order of the Karnataka High Court halving the compensation awarded by a tribunal to the victim of an accident in Bangalore. The High Court had ruled that the victim too was responsible for the accident.
In 2000, Bangalore resident Renuka Devi suffered injuries after her TVS Scooty collided with a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus. The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) awarded her a compensation of Rs 12.32 lakh.
The corporation went to the High Court, which took note of the fact that Devi had been injured after she hit the bus from behind. It ruled that she had been driving in a negligent manner, and had contributed to the accident. It slashed the compensation by half.
On Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court judgment.
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