Chennai: A Chennai motor accident claims tribunal has awarded ₹1.04 crore as compensation to the family of a woman dentist who was killed in a road accident in Neelathanallur, near Thanjavur in 2022.As the dentist travelled in a goods carrier (Tata Ace), the tribunal granted the award after deducting 10% towards contributory negligence on part of the dentist. “The tribunal holds that the deceased has also contributed to some extent to her death in the unfortunate accident occurred and the extent of contribution is calculated as 10%,” A B Naseer Ali, judge of the tribunal said, and passed the award on a petition moved by the deceased Imayavalli’s husband U Radhakrishnan, minor son R I Hemdev Dharshan, her father M Selvam, and mother S G Jothi seeking ₹45 lakh as relief for the death caused to the deceased in the road accident.Representing the petitioners, advocate A S Bilal submitted that on Aug 15, 2022, Radhakrishnan was driving a goods carrier at around 2.00pm in which Imayavalli and others were seated in the rear side. While they were proceeding near Asoor Kulam, Neelathanallur, another goods carrier driven by B Rajesh coming from the opposite direction, driven in a rash and negligent manner collided against their vehicle. Imayavalli died on the spot while others sustained injuries.Opposing the plea, the insurer of Rajesh’s vehicle Magma HDI General Insurance Co Ltd contended that there was a delay of 182 days in filing the petition. It further argued that the deceased being a dentist should not have traveled in the rear portion of a goods vehicle, which is permitted only for carrying goods. “If she had averted traveling there, she would not have died and so, reasonable contributory negligence should be added to the accident,” the insurer said.Recording the submissions, the tribunal directed payment of ₹2.32 lakh each to the parents of the deceased and ₹50 lakh each to her husband and son. The share of the son was directed to be deposited in a nationalised bank until he becomes a major.
