In plain words: people often assume that if the driver is acquitted in the criminal case, the compensation claim is over. It is not. A MACT claim is decided on a different, easier-to-meet standard.
Two different cases, two different standards
A road accident can lead to a criminal case (the State prosecuting the driver) and a separate compensation claim before the MACT. They are decided on very different standards:
- Criminal case: guilt must be proved beyond reasonable doubt — a high bar.
- MACT claim: the claimant need only show the case on a preponderance of probabilities — that it is more likely than not.
Why an acquittal does not decide your claim
Because the standards differ, a driver can be acquitted in the criminal case (the prosecution failing to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt) while the Tribunal still finds, on the balance of probabilities, that the vehicle caused the accident and awards compensation. The criminal outcome is not binding on the Tribunal.
The role of the FIR and police papers
The FIR, charge sheet and site plan are useful evidence of how the accident happened, but they are not conclusive, and a claim can succeed even without a conviction. Equally, you do not have to wait for the criminal case to finish before pursuing your compensation.
What this means for you
- Do not drop a claim just because the driver was acquitted.
- Build the claim on your own evidence — the accident, the injury and the income.
- Run the compensation claim in parallel with, not hostage to, the criminal case.
Frequently asked questions
The driver was acquitted — can I still win? Yes — the Tribunal applies a lower standard and decides independently.
Do I need a conviction to claim? No — a conviction is not required.
Should I wait for the criminal case to end? No — the claim can proceed in parallel.
How Vakil Help Desk helps
Vakil Help Desk builds your MACT claim on its own evidence and the civil standard of proof — regardless of what happens in the criminal case. If you have been told an acquittal killed your claim, speak to us; often it has not.
This article is for general legal awareness, not individual legal advice. Compensation and tax outcomes depend on the facts, the evidence and the law as applied to your case, and figures and positions are revised over time. Please consult a lawyer before acting.