Compensation Awarded to Family of Deceased Teacher in Palghar Accident

In a significant ruling, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Palghar has awarded ₹51.65 lakh to the family of a school teacher who tragically lost her life in a road accident in 2017. The court dismissed claims of negligence against the teacher's husband, who was driving at the time of the incident. The accident, caused by a speeding truck, resulted in severe injuries to the husband and their son, Rishabh, who was left paralyzed. This ruling highlights the importance of accountability in road safety and the rights of victims' families.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 18:14 IST

Court Orders Compensation for Tragic Road Accident

In Palghar, Maharashtra, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has mandated a compensation of ₹51.65 lakh to the family of a 53-year-old school teacher who lost her life in a road accident in 2017. The incident occurred when the teacher's husband was driving their car, which was struck by a truck, resulting in her untimely death.

The insurance company for the truck argued that the husband was also negligent during the incident, suggesting that the compensation amount should be reduced. They further contended that the teacher's income should be calculated based on her salary for the remaining five years until retirement. However, MACT member A.R. Rahane dismissed these claims in an order issued on July 17, referencing previous judicial decisions.

A copy of this ruling was made available on Sunday. On December 31, 2017, the teacher, Sudha Vijaykumar Chopra, was returning to Mumbai from Vapi with her husband, Vijaykumar Shyamkumar Chopra (60). During their journey, a speeding truck collided with the rear of their vehicle near Haloli village on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway.

The impact was so severe that their car crashed into the road divider, flipped over, and rolled multiple times before landing on the opposite side of the road. Sudha Chopra died at the scene, while her husband and son sustained serious injuries. Following the accident, her husband and their 31-year-old son, Rishabh, sought compensation from the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT).

Rishabh was left paralyzed due to the accident. The tribunal noted that there was no evidence to suggest that Vijaykumar was negligent or that the accident was caused by any other factor. Consequently, the tribunal ordered the truck owner, a resident of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and the insurance company to jointly pay ₹51,65,600, along with an annual interest rate of six percent from the date of filing the petition (March 3, 2018) until the payment date.