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Supreme Court of India 2024-09-19 allowed

SUSHMA vs NITIN GANAPATI

Bench: 2 — Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, Sandeep Mehta

In Brief

A car collided with an unattended 14-wheeler truck parked in the middle of a dark highway without parking lights or warning markers at night, killing four and injuring one. The Tribunal and High Court held the car's driver 50% liable for contributory negligence and reduced compensation by half. The Supreme Court reversed this finding, holding the truck owner fully liable. The Court ruled that a driver's negligence cannot be imputed to passengers, and the 'last opportunity' doctrine cannot apply when visibility is severely impaired by darkness and the parked vehicle lacks statutory warning markers. Claimants were awarded full compensation without deduction.

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Motor Vehicles Negligence and Contributory Negligence Tort Law Compensation Insurance Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Traffic Hazards Statutory Obligations

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