No compensation for self-caused accidents, rules Supreme Court in rash driving case
PTC Web Desk: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that insurance companies are not obligated to provide compensation in cases where a person dies due to their own reckless and negligent driving. The verdict came as the apex court dismissed a plea filed by the family of NS Ravisha, who died in a car accident reportedly caused by his own rash driving.
A Bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan upheld a prior judgment by the Karnataka High Court dated November 23, 2024, which denied the compensation claim of Rs 80 lakh filed by the deceased's wife, son, and parents.
“We see no reason to interfere with the impugned judgment of the High Court. Accordingly, the Special Leave Petition stands dismissed,” stated the court in its order issued on Wednesday.
The incident dates back to June 18, 2014, when Ravisha was driving from Mallasandra village to Arasikere town. His father, sister, and her children were also in the vehicle. The car overturned after Ravisha allegedly drove at high speed, disregarding traffic norms. He sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
The High Court had held that since the accident was solely the result of Ravisha's negligent driving and he was responsible for the mishap, his legal heirs were not entitled to receive compensation under the insurance claim. “Allowing compensation in such a case would be akin to rewarding a person for their own wrongful act,” the court had observed.
- With inputs from agencies
