Compensation of Rs 65 Lakh Awarded to Family of Hit-and-Run Victim in Faridabad | Gurgaon News

GURGAON: The family members of a manager of a private company who died in a hit-and-run accident in 2019 in Faridabad were awarded compensation of Rs 65.49 lakh.
The deceased, Ashish Sharma, the only earning member of the family, was 36 years old at the time of the accident, with regular employment and potential for the future.
On August 23, 2019, Ashish Sharma, along with his friend Nishant, was going to his home on a scooter. It was being driven by Nishant on the correct left-hand side of the road.
When they reached the Nayapul bypass road in Faridabad, the offending vehicle, bearing No. UP-85-BT-1583, came from the side of Badarpur road. It was being driven at high speed and in a rash, negligent, and zig-zag manner.
It collided with their scooter. As a result of the collision, Ashish Sharma and his friend sustained fatal injuries. Both were taken to Asian Hospital, Faridabad, but due to his serious condition, Ashish Sharma succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
A case was registered against the unknown driver under sections 279, 337, and 304A of the IPC at Sarai Khawaja police station in Faridabad, based on Nishant’s statement.
Renu (36), the wife of Ashish Sharma, and children Giti and Kian, residents of Arjun Nagar, filed a petition against Kishan Swaroop, the driver of the offending vehicle, Keshav Dev, the owner of the vehicle, and HDFC ERGO Insurance Co Ltd, demanding compensation of Rs 90 lakh with 18% interest. The driver and owner of the vehicle did not appear before the court.
Vibhor Aggarwal, counsel for the insurance company, argued that the petitioner had not provided any proof of their relationship or dependency on the deceased. The FIR did not mention the registration number of the vehicle.
Monu Yadav, counsel for the petitioner, argued that the accident caused by the reckless, rash, and negligent driving of the offending vehicle resulted in the death of Ashish Sharma, the sole breadwinner of his family. The evidence of the income of the deceased was provided to the court.
Nishant Bhatia, who was driving the scooter with Ashish Sharma as the pillion rider, provided a detailed account of the accident in the court, stating that the offending vehicle approached them from the Badarpur border direction.
“It was being driven in a rash, negligent, and high-speed manner and it collided with our scooter,” said Bhatia in the court. Bhatia and Ashish were wearing helmets, and he was driving within a safe speed limit.
Renu said Ashish Sharma was employed at Nivesh Goyal Pvt Ltd, where he worked as a Manager, earning Rs 38,000 per month. She also submitted the bank statement and salary slips.
The Presiding Officer of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Sunil Chauhan, in its order dated October 24, observed that considering the stable employment and potential future growth, the tribunal awarded compensation of Rs 65.49 lakh.
Out of the awarded compensation, 60% shall be paid to the widow of the deceased, while the remaining 40% shall be divided equally among the two minor children of the deceased. The compensation amount would be paid by the insurance company.