KARUNAKARAN Vs. ABDUL RASHEED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant sustained serious injuries in a motor accident that occurred on 11-03-2005 by knocking him down by a car while he was walking along the side of the road. He has preferred a petition before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Tirur, claiming compensation on account of the injuries sustained in the accident. The learned Tribunal, after considering the matter, found that the accident had occurred due to the negligence on the part of the driver of the car and awarded a total compensation of Rs. 40,000/- under various heads as follows: <p><table class = tablestyle width="50%" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" align="center" style="font-family:Verdana"> <tr> <td width="54%">Transport to hospital</td> <td width="15%"><div align="center">--</div></td> <td width="10%"><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td width="21%"><div align="right">1,000/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Damages to clothing</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">500/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Expenses for bystander</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">1,500/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Extra-nourishment</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">1,000/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Medical bills</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">8,800/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pain and suffering</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">10,000/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Loss of amenities</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">8,000/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Loss of earnings</td> <td><div align="center">--</div></td> <td><div align="right">Rs.</div></td> <td><div align="right">9,000/-</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center"><strong>Total</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>--</strong></div></td> <td><div align="right"><strong>Rs.</strong></div></td> <td><div align="right"><strong>39,800/-</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="right"></div></td> <td><div align="right"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4"><div align="center">(Rounded to Rs. 40,000/-)</div></td> </tr> </table>

(2.) Heard the learned counsel appearing for the appellant and the learned counsel appearing for the third respondent Insurance Company. Notice to the respondents 1 and 2 was dispensed with for the reason that the third respondent Insurance Company did not dispute its liability to pay compensation in this case.

(3.) The appellant was taken to Al Shifa Hospital, Perinthalmanna, after the accident. He has sustained segmental fracture of right humerus. There were abrasions on the right elbow and right knee. Also suffered laceration on the chin apart from sustaining mobility of his upper right first and second incisors. He was treated at that Hospital as inpatient from 11-03-2005 to 13-03-2005. Thereafter, he was admitted to Imbichibava Memorial Government Taluk Hospital, Ponnani. He has undergone a major surgery viz. interlocking nailing of humerus and bone grafting. He has undergone inpatient treatment there from 13-03-2005 to 26-03-2005. He was on plaster cast for six weeks. After removal of the plaster cast, he was on active physiotherapy. He was aged 40 at the time of accident. He was a construction worker during that period. The appellant was examined before the Tribunal as PW1 when he has stated the difficulties being experienced by him as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.