No, an FIR is not always mandatory for filing a motor accident compensation claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). An FIR is important evidence because it can help establish that the accident occurred and provide details about the vehicle, driver, and circumstances of the accident. However, the absence of an FIR or a delay in registering it does not automatically defeat a genuine compensation claim.
The claimant should still provide other available evidence, such as medical records, MLC or injury reports, accident information reports, vehicle details, photographs, witness statements, hospital records, and other documents that support the accident and the injuries or losses suffered.
The Supreme Court has also emphasized that mere delay in lodging an FIR should not by itself be a reason to reject a motor accident claim. However, if there is no FIR and the other evidence is weak, contradictory, or suggests that the accident did not occur as claimed, the absence or delay of an FIR may become relevant when the Tribunal assesses the case.
Therefore, you may still have a valid motor accident compensation claim even if no FIR was initially registered, but you should collect and preserve as much supporting evidence as possible.
