After a serious road accident, families are dealing with hospitals and police at the same time as questions of compensation. This page sets out what to gather and how to reach the chamber of Advocate Manish Jha, which represents claimants before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals in Delhi.
What Claimants Should Bring
Compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is computed from documents. The stronger the record, the better the award. Before the first meeting, try to gather:
- FIR and police papers — the FIR number and police station; in Delhi the police also prepare a Detailed Accident Report (DAR) which is placed before the Tribunal and treated as the claim petition.
- Medical records — admission papers, treatment summaries, operation notes, bills, pharmacy receipts and any disability certificate; in death cases, the post-mortem report and death certificate.
- Income proof — salary slips, appointment letter, income-tax returns, bank statements or business records of the injured or deceased; where none exist, the Tribunal takes notional income, but actual proof yields a fairer award.
- Identity and relationship documents — for the claimants and, in death cases, proof of legal heirship and dependency.
- Vehicle and insurance details of the offending vehicle, if known, along with any photographs of the accident scene or the vehicles involved.
Detailed guidance on the claim itself is on the motor accident claims page, and the tribunal-side practice is described on the MACT practice page.
Chamber Address
Advocate Manish Jha
E-397, 4th Floor, Tagore Garden Extension,
New Delhi – 110027
Phone: +91 98738 50301
Email: legal@advocatemanishjha.com
When writing to the chamber, please mention the date and place of the accident, the FIR number and police station, whether a DAR has been filed, the injuries or loss suffered, and which documents from the list above are already available. The claim period under the amended Act is limited, so early contact preserves options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the DAR before approaching a lawyer?
No. The Detailed Accident Report is prepared by the police and filed before the Tribunal within set timelines, and claimants are asked to supply documents to the investigating officer for it. Early legal guidance helps ensure the DAR record is complete, since gaps in income or medical documents directly affect the award.
The family has no income proof for the deceased. Is a claim still possible?
Yes. Where actual income cannot be proved, Tribunals assess compensation on notional income, with the standard additions and multiplier. However, any genuine evidence — bank entries, employer certificates, business records, even informal-sector earnings shown through consistent documentation — improves the assessment, so nothing should be discarded.
Is there a deadline for filing the claim?
Yes. Under the Motor Vehicles Act as amended in 2019, claims should be filed within six months of the accident. In Delhi the DAR procedure ordinarily brings the matter before the Tribunal within this window, but families should not delay contact on the assumption that time is unlimited.