Accidents
Road accident — injury, death or vehicle damage claim
Accident claims are decided on the police record, the medical record and the proof of income. We'll collect all three.
Answer a few questions and get your list →What the law says
Compensation claims go to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). Section 166(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act says a claim must be filed within 6 months of the accident. Its validity is being challenged in the Supreme Court: by interim order of 4 Nov 2025 (ICICI Lombard v. Ayiti Navaneetha), tribunals must not dismiss claims as time-barred under it while the case is pending, and by order of 16 Dec 2025 they may hear late claims but not finalise the judgment until the Supreme Court decides. So file within 6 months if you can; if that time has passed, still file.
General information, not legal advice.
Papers that usually help
- FIR copy and the police accident report (DAR)
Primary evidence of negligence and vehicles involved. - Get an FIR registered and note the number
Claims rely heavily on police records. - Other vehicle's number, photos, driver details and insurance
The insurer is made a party. - Hospital records: MLC, discharge summaries, bills, prescriptions
Basis of medical compensation. - Disability certificate from a medical board
Major factor in compensation. - Income proof: salary slips, ITR, business records, employer letter
Basis of loss-of-income/dependency. - Age proof of the injured/deceased (school certificate, Aadhaar, PAN)
Age affects the multiplier used for compensation. - Death certificate, post-mortem report, legal heirs' details
Needed for a death claim. - Spot photos/videos, CCTV request, witness names
Supports the claim on negligence. - Vehicle repair estimate, bills, surveyor report
Basis of damage claim. - Your own insurance policies and claim papers
Coordinate claims. - Your driving licence, RC, insurance and PUC (if you were driving)
Insurers check these to avoid liability.
Questions Saboot will ask you
- What happened?
- When was the accident?
- Is the other vehicle known?
- Was a police FIR registered?
- Was the injured or deceased person earning?
- Has any permanent disability been assessed?
- Do you have your own vehicle/health insurance that may also pay?
Sources
- ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Ayiti Navaneetha, Supreme Court interim order, 4 Nov 2025
- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Common situations
- Injured in a road accident
- Family member died in a road accident
- Hit-and-run — driver unknown
- My vehicle damaged in an accident
- I am accused of causing an accident
- Accident happened months ago and no claim filed
- Police did not register an FIR for the accident
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