Whole-body disability was assessed at 16% based on the evidence of both specialists.

The claimant sought compensation for injuries sustained in a road accident on 23 May 2024, alleging that the accident was caused by the negligent driving of a lorry.

The Tribunal awarded him ₹29,89,216 with interest at 6% per annum.

The claimant appealed seeking enhancement; the insurer separately appealed challenging the quantum of compensation.

The High Court considered, among other matters, the claimant’s disability, income, period of recovery, attendant-related expenses and future medical needs.

Whether the compensation awarded by the Tribunal required enhancement for pain and suffering, loss of amenities, loss of income during the recovery period, and future medical expenses.

Whether the Tribunal’s assessment of disability and its awards for loss of future income and attendant-related expenses were excessive or otherwise required modification.

The appeals were brought under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides for appeals against awards of a Claims Tribunal.

In assessing compensation, the Court considered the evidence of the doctors, the claimant’s age, income and disability, and the expenses and treatment needs established on the record.

It used the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority’s notional-income figure of ₹17,000 per month for 2024 and applied a multiplier of 17 for the claimant’s age.

No judicial precedent was cited.

The Court fixed the claimant’s whole-body disability at 16%, having considered the orthopaedic surgeon’s assessment of 17.3% and the plastic surgeon’s assessment of 15%, and calculated future income loss as ₹17,000 × 12 × 17 × 16%, or ₹5,54,880.

It increased compensation for pain and suffering to ₹80,000, loss of amenities to ₹60,000, and four months’ loss of income to ₹68,000.

It allowed ₹30,000 for implant removal and ₹2,00,000 for the anticipated debulking procedure, but reduced attendant, conveyance, food and nourishment expenses to ₹26,000 for 26 hospital days.

It otherwise retained medical expenses of ₹18,10,014 and declined ambulance charges because the supporting bill lacked the required details.

Interest remained payable at 6% per annum from the date of the petition until realisation.

The insurer was directed to deposit the compensation, including any amount already deposited, before the Tribunal within six weeks; the Tribunal’s directions concerning release and deposit otherwise remained unchanged.