Recounting an accident and subsequent updates:
About two years ago, in end October 2016, the son aged 20 years, with a valid licence and all statutory vehicle documents in place, driving a six and half year old scooter, wearing a helmet, met with an accident; on an undivided fairly smooth 80+ft carriageway, not a major road at that time, sparse traffic throughout the day at about 10.30 a.m.
Riding at about 50-60 kmph, the scooter could really not go much faster, he encountered a tractor with a small water tanker trailer, driving in the right lane of the onward carriageway. The vehicle was going much slower than his speed and observing that there were no vehicles on the return carriageway, moved to the right to overtake the vehicle.
As soon as he came abreast of the tractor-tanker, he saw another tractor-tanker just ahead of it and in a split second, the lead tractor-tanker turned right to take a u-turn. Presumably and on instinct, he must have veered to the right to avoid an accident. He recollects that there was no time to brake and in that action hit the front section of the lead tractor-tanker. The impact threw him further right and he landed up on the road in the middle of the left most lane on the return carriageway.
The son was able to give my mobile number to a kind bystander, who called me and I was able to reach the site within ten minutes of the call. Saw the son flat on his back, legs apart, hands by his side, bare faced (helmet was removed by bystanders), badly damaged scooter on its side a little further and a flock of bystanders surrounding him. This scene will never ever leave my memory!
Reached him, confirmed my presence to him, checked with bystanders if ambulance had been called and understood that it was done about 20 minutes ago. Turned my attention to the son and assured him that ambulance is on its way and started my check to see what was wrong. He could see, but had closed his eyes because of the sun blaring on his face. Some abrasions and blood on his face, did not look very serious. The pant on his right knee was torn and there was some blood around.
When he confirmed that he cannot move, checked which parts were a problem, said that there is something definitely wrong with his shoulder and also his leg. Head was aching terribly. Didn't think that he had lost consciousness after the impact. Confirmed that the head seemed ok.
Since ambulance had not yet arrived, took the decision to call the prestigious private hospital about a kilometre and half away to dispatch theirs. Continued to comfort the son, shielded him from the sun and waited. Said private hospital ambulance arrived first. Professionally, they moved him to a stretcher and loaded it onto the ambulance and took off. Bystanders had handed over his bag, wallet, mobile etc.
Emergency section of the hospital geared itself up quickly, cutting through the clothes, checking on the wounds and talking to him continuously. He was in tremendous pain and I kept flitting in and out from next to him, letting him know that I am around. X-rays were the next step and this was done with some difficulty as moving him to the X-ray table from the stretcher was an exercise by itself (six people holding on to four ends of the sheet on the stretcher, plus two in the middle - lifted off the stretcher and placed on the x-ray table).
About one and half hours after reaching the hospital, registration fee paid, file opened, money deposited, emergency doctors examined, some basic bandaging done, x-ray was checked to find that the thigh bone was broken into two and splintered, knee cap and bone had some fracture and shavings, collar bone had fractured. Apparently nothing to the head other than some facial wounds and no concussions.
The ortho said we can operate only tomorrow morning, so he was moved to the wards, and propped up with painkillers and anti-biotics. The rest of the day and night passed in a painful daze for him, coming to life only when he had his friends who came around to comfort and spend some time.
Next day operation lasted for quite some time. Rod inserted for the thigh bone, knee cap repaired, some muscle portion restitched and sewn up, collar bone left to heal by itself, two screws in the knee bone to hold it together and post recuperation was brought back to the ward. The next few days were once again spent with some good amount of pain, inability to stand and the anxiety of what is the future for him, trauma from the accident itself and some myriad thoughts.
In the meanwhile the cops who had been alerted, came to take his statement. They had already visited the accident site and the bystanders having noted the tractor-tanker number, the same was relayed to the cops. At the left side of the return carriageway, where the accident took place there is a water filling point and the tractor-tankers were intending to park there for filling. The police confirmed that there was no indicator lights on the tanker trailer and that they have the driver under custody and all the vehicles documents (registration, insurance, driver's licence).
It took the son, one month to start walking with crutches, some acrobatics and heavy lifting from our side to move him on to a wheelchair now and again in the interim period, and three months to move away from the crutches. For the next four to five months he was walking with a pronounced limp. Normalcy returned slowly and he is now as fit as he can be.
Case filed against the driver, compensation sought from the vehicle's insurer and now being settled. Scooter a complete write off. Case is in court and as I, the person who filed the complaint and the son as defendant, have appeared in the metropolitan magistrate's court as witnesses once, when the accused did not turn up, next date awaited.
The question here is, who (all) is really at fault?
- The driver for taking a u-turn in the middle of the carriageway without any prior indication?
- The road authorities for not having a median and designated sections for taking legitimate turns (especially on such a wide carriageway)?
- Planning authorities who plan and sanction such roads?
- Tanker manufacturer for not having indicator lights on the trailer?
- RTO for allowing such trailers on the road and not booking them?
- Tractor-Tanker Owner for flouting safety norms and ensuring that the drivers follow safe driving practices?
- The system itself which allows untrained drivers on the road?
- Local / Central Government?