5 Ways How Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019 Helps Accident Victims

1. Enhanced Compensation: The amended Act gives the victims some respite as it provides for an enhanced insurance compensation of ₹5 lakh in case of death of a person in a traffic accident and ₹2.5 lakh where there is “grievous hurt”. The compensation to be awarded following hit-and-run accidents has also been raised to ₹2 lakh when a victim dies and ₹50,000 when he/she suffers a grievous injury.
2. Treatment during Golden Hour: Additionally, the Act now requires insurance companies and the government to notify schemes relating to cashless treatment during the ‘Golden Hour’ — the period of first 60 minutes from the occurrence of an accident when the risk of fatality can be minimised to the greatest extent.
3. Compulsory Insurance: It mandates compulsory insurance of all road users, including pedestrians, who will be covered through a ‘Motor Vehicle Accident Fund’.
4. Interim Relief: It also provides for interim relief to be provided to the claimants.
5. Passage to Ambulance: Vehicle users who don’t give passage to emergency ambulance vehicle are liable to be punished with fines