Sudden Brakes, Tragic Consequences: Supreme Court Holds Driver Liable for Highway Accident

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has held that a car driver who applies sudden brakes on a highway without any warning can be found negligent in the event of a road accident. This verdict came after an engineering student, S Mohammed Hakim, lost his left leg in an accident caused by a car's abrupt stop on the highway.

The incident occurred on January 7, 2017, in Coimbatore, when Hakim's motorcycle collided with the rear of a car that had come to an unexpected halt. As a result, Hakim fell onto the road and was run over by a bus approaching from behind.

The car driver had claimed that he applied the brakes suddenly because his pregnant wife experienced a vomiting sensation. However, the court rejected this explanation, stating that it is "not a reasonable explanation from any angle." The bench, comprising Justices Suddhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar, emphasized that on a highway, where high speeds are expected, a driver has a responsibility to give a warning or signal before stopping their vehicle.

Holding the car driver 50% liable for the accident, the court also found the appellant (Hakim) 20% responsible for not maintaining a sufficient distance from the car. The bus driver was held 30% liable. The total compensation of Rs 1.14 crore was reduced by 20% due to Hakim's contributory negligence.