Chennai: The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chennai, has directed MTC to pay 76,000 to a 23-year old maid servant who sustained injuries in a freak accident three years ago.The petitioner, A.Lakshmi, 23, of Okkiyam Thorapakkam, submitted that she was working as a maid servant and earning Rs 10,000 per month. On September 27, 2013 around 7.10 pm she was travelling in an MTC bus. The vehicle was driven in a rash and negligent manner. The driver drove the bus over a speed-breaker at high speed.
In the impact, the left side rear windscreen came out from its hold and fell on her. As a result, she suffered fracture of left wrist. She was admitted to Royapettah Government Hospital. She suffered 25 per cent disability. She said the accident occurred due to the reckless driving. The driver was solely responsible for the accident. Therefore, the Managing Director, MTC, was vicariously and statutorily liable to pay compensation to her with interest and costs.
The managing director, MTC, submitted that when the bus reached near RRE bus stop, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, the driver noticed through the left rear view mirror that a woman passenger who was seated was stretching her hand outside the bus. On seeing this, the conductor advised her. However, she refused. Meanwhile, the driver applied the brake and reduced the speed and crossed the speed breaker carefully.
The side windscreen dislocated itself and fell on her hands. Immediately, the driver stopped the vehicle and rushed her to the hospital. The judge, Small Causes Court-III, Chennai, P.Velmurugan, held that the driver was driving the bus rashly and negligently, endangering public safety at the time of accident.
The petitioner may find difficulty in doing her day-to-day work, considering the nature of injury and disability and period of treatment. Therefore, the MTC is liable to pay Rs 76,000 as compensation to her.
