Toyota to compensate owner with Rs 25 lakh for Fortuner accident in 2012

New Delhi, Nov 14: The Indian arm of Toyota Motors will pay a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for an accident. The accident which involved Toyota Motors 'Fortuner' SUV, resulted in the death of the driver and serious injuries to the owner. The accident took place in Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2012.

As per a TOI report, "The SUV's owner, Gautam Sharma, had alleged that his 33-year-old driver Sher Khan died from the impact of the accident as the airbags failed to deploy, contrary to the manufacturer's claim that it was an accident-safe vehicle. The SUV had allegedly rammed into a pole before toppling over.

Sharma's counsel Vivek Tankha had argued for criminal liability against the directors of the company, accusing them of vicarious liability for negligence as the airbags in the SUV failed to deploy, resulting in the driver's death besides injuring the owner and his gunman. "

Though the maufacturer also argued on their part about why the airbags did not open but on Thursday agreed before the Supreme Court to pay the compensation.

The Supreme Court bench when asked Tankha if he would settle for compensation then Tankha agreed to Toyota's offer to give compensation.

The Supreme Court on Thursday has quashed a criminal case of cheating and forgery against directors of Toyota Motors after the company agreed to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to Gautam Sharma, owner of the Fortuner and Rs 15 lakhs to the family of the driver, 33 year old Sher Khan, who died in the accident.

OneIndia News