The tragedy for many families start right from losing their breadwinner to the humiliation of fighting an extended legal battle to get the compensation, solely to sustain themselves.

It is a state of affairs derided by the Delhi High Court especially in the backdrop of the rising number of Blueline accidents. The court observed that insurance companies are quick to settle claims of vehicles insured with them, but give very little attention paying accident victims.

“It is a great irony in this country that insurance companies are prompt in settling claims of insured vehicles for its damage but create all sorts of obstructions and bottlenecks in settling the claims of victims of accidents,” Justice Kailash Gambhir noted.

The court also took a dig at the current maximum compensation of Rs 50,000 payable under the Motor Vehicles law: “The life of a human being is not cheaper than a Nano car”.

Insurance companies take immediate care of the vehicle involved in accidents and have tied up with many leading car manufacturers and workshops for even delivery of the vehicle involved in the accident.

“Atrociously no similar pains are taken by these firms to compensate the victims or dependent family members in case of fatal accidents,” the Bench said alluding to the extreme step taken by Goltu’s mother faced with a bleak future.

“The realities of life cannot be overlooked. The victims of accident and their family members should not be made to wait for years for the compensation amount,” the court observed, adding that insurance firms also would save their pennies to be paid as interest accumulated during a long court battle.