Sir, I write this petition to you with the greatest pain and reluctance, but I beg your indulgence to give this a patient and careful reading. I am trespassing at length on your time; but to whom else could I turn with equal hope of help in my need.
I am K.Prabhakaran (owner of the car vide registration number TN 09 CW 9663 of Hyundai make and i10 NIOS model). I am Orthopedically Handicapped and working as a Scientist at the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. I was on my way to consult a doctor at Annai Arul Hospital, old perungalathur, for my back pain on 26th June 2021. Mr. Nagarajan(my friend), drove the car, and I was sitting on the left side of the rear seat.
My car met with an accident on the same day while we were waiting at Perungalathur Signal. My car was hit by a TATA ACE vehicle, which came very fast, tried crossing my car on the left side. The chain with linchpin hook used to secure the cargo bed's tailgate in Tata Ace was hanging. Due to high speed and proximity, the tailgate linchpin hook clung in between my car's front left mudguard and tyre, resulting in damage to the car's body, bumper and puncturing the tyre. The Tata Ace vehicle sped away from the scene without stopping. Unfortunately, we couldn't note the number of the Tata Ace vehicle. We couldn't inspect the car by getting down immediately as the green signal was through, and all vehicles started moving ahead.A Traffic Police officer from the nearby booth came to help. We then changed the punctured tyre with a stepneytyre. Then we moved the car to the left side of the road. We waited till the Hyundai roadside service recovery van reached the spot and took my car to Hyundai Body Shop, Alandhur Branch.
The vehicle was insured under HDFC Ergo Insurance, and I initiated the insurance process through Mr. Abdul working for Hyundai Insurance Team, Alandhur. Mr. Abdul asked me submit documents to Mr. Lakshman his team member. While submitting the insurance form the driver name and details was not filled as there was an ambiguity and an assumption that the name of the owner (physically challenged) only should be provided for an adapted vehicle. I observed that Mr. Lakshmananwas not fully aware of the procedure to process the insurance claim of an adapted vehicle. I insisted Mr. Lakshman to check the complete procedure and contact me for inputs if any and process the insurance claim accordingly.
I trusted Mr. Lakshman that he will verify and then fill the form complete in all respects and forward it. Still, all my sincere attempts failed when I heard from Mr. Abdul on Monday (28-June-2021) that the documents were forwarded and submitted to HDFC Ergo team. I was shocked to know that without filling in the driver details and license information the form was submitted. However, I was told that Mr. Rajes Kannan is the surveyor allotted for my case. After verifying the procedure for adaptive vehicles, Mr. Rajesh Kannan will contact me for clarification, if any.
I also called Mr.Rajesh Kannan, the surveyor from HDFC Ergo Insurance, and asked him to check for the procedure for adapted vehicles and proceed further. Mr. Rajesh Kannan replied that he would update after uploading the file for processing. I was waiting for Mr. Rajesh Kannan to contact me, but to my shock, I got information on 30-June-2021 (Wednesday) that the claim file is rejected due to non availability of driver details and license information. When I checked up with Mr. Rajesh Kannan on the reason for the rejection of the claim, I was informed that an physically challenged person should only drive an adapted vehicle. Since my friend has drove and due to non-availability of license details, the claim has been rejected.
I checked with Physically Challenged Society in parallel and came to know that Physically Challenged person is not allowed to drive normal vehicle, but an adapted vehicle can be driven by physically challenged person and a normal person as well. I called back Mr. Rajesh Kannan on 01-July-2021 (Thursday) afternoon and informed the prevailing rule for adapted vehicles. Mr. Rajes Kannan accepted after detailed deliberation asked me to get CSR from Traffic Police to re-process the file subject to approval by competent authority.
Following that, despite my challenge, I went to Perungalathur police station on 02-July-2021 to get CSR and, if possible, to get the video footage from the signal. At Perungalathur, I was directed to go to Chitlapakkam S12 Police Station as the accident spot falls under their jurisdiction. I visited S12 Police Station on the same day and explained everything to the Inspector & Sub-Inspector right from the beginning, and I was asked to come again on Saturday (03-July-2021) with Mr.K.Nagarajan who actually drove the vehicle to give the petition in his name to get the CSR.
Then Myself and Mr.K.Nagarajan again went to S12 Chitlapakkam police station and gave a written petition to get the CSR. We were asked to come on 05-July-2021 (Monday) to get the CSR. As instructed by the Police Official, we again went to S12 Police Station on 05-July-2021(Monday) and waited from morning 10 am till evening. Around 5:00 pm I was told that the video footage has to be verified between Tambaram and Perungalathur signals to give the CSR and we were asked to come after 3 days as the investigation may take some time.
We were asked to come S12 Police Station on Thursday (08-July-2021) afternoon. The officials informed that the verification process is completed and the CSR will be given on 09-July-2021 (Friday) as it needs to be signed by Sub-Inspector Mr. Ganapathy, who is the investigation officer for this case.
Asides my difficulties as a physically challenged person, I along with Mr. K. Nagarajan again visited the S12 Police Station on 09-July-2021 (Friday) morning around 10:00 am and I was informed that the Sub-Inspector went on an urgent duty to the commissioner office and will be coming only on Sunday (11-July-2021) and we were asked to come and collect the CSR on 11th July 2021.
Again, we visited Chitlapakkam S12 Police Station on Sunday (11-July-2021) and we were informed that their System Operator is not available to take the CSR print from System and the police officer in the station asked us to come again on 12-July-2021 (Monday) to get the CSR.
We again visited the S12 Police station on 12th July 2021. While collecting the CSR, I observed a misinterpretation that I was driving my friend's car in the CSR. When checked with the police official, they took back the CSR and made the necessary correction by overwriting it, and the sub-inspector has countersigned the correction made. When we checked it with the Sub-Inspector, Mr. Ganapathy, he mentioned that it's just a typographical error and has been corrected. We requested to give a newly printed CSR without any overwriting but Mr. Ganapathywas not willing to give as the seal and all other procedure are over. Finally, he told us that if insurance is objecting or questioning the overwriting, they may be directed to contact the S12 police station for clarification. Then the same CSR was submitted to Hyundai Body shop as received from Police Station on 12-July-2021 (Monday) to forward to it HDFC Ergo Insurance Team.
After this, the file was re-processed by HDFC Ergo Insurance Team. Again, the file got rejected, stating that the scenario has changed and the file was subsequently moved to the investigation team on 17-July-2021 (Saturday) to investigate the actual scenario. Mr. Sundararajan from HDFC Ergo conducted a detailed investigation on 21-July-2021 (Wednesday).
I received a oral communication from Mr. Vignesh, HDFC Ergo insurance claim team that my insurance claim is rejected due to mis-representation and stating no other valid reasons.
I thought I am physically challenged, but the entire system is handicapped. I have visited the police station to get a CSR for 7 times. There is no mercy even after seeing my trouble in commuting.
Having, I believe, informed you, Sir, of the chief points which I felt encouraged to submit for your kind consideration, I hope you will consider this request and do the needful.
