#Personal Injury Claims

Allahabad High Court holds that failure to implead the driver in motor accident claims does not invalidate the claim, emphasizing courts' duty to award just compensation regardless of procedural objections. The ruling reinforces that tribunals must apply the correct multiplier and dependency ratio, even in the absence of cross-objections, to ensure fair compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Himachal Pradesh High Court sets aside a token Rs.29,000 award, ruling that tribunals must conduct a granular head-wise breakdown of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Court enhanced compensation to Rs.2,51,473, reinforcing that 'just compensation' requires individualized assessment of loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future prospects.

The Karnataka High Court ruled that compensation for grievous injuries under the Motor Vehicles Act must be itemized, covering pain, disfigurement, loss of income, and incidental expenses. The court enhanced the award to ₹58,500, rejecting a global sum of ₹20,000, setting a precedent for detailed breakdowns in personal injury claims.