The Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies are not obligated to provide compensation to the families of drivers who die as a result of their own rash and negligent driving. This decision sends a strong message to those who engage in dangerous stunts or drive recklessly in an attempt to gain attention.

Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan dismissed a claim petition filed by the family of a man who died while driving his car at high speed in a rash and negligent manner, which resulted in the vehicle overturning. The family sought ₹80 lakh in compensation from United India Insurance Company. The bench stated that family members cannot demand an insurance payout when the death is caused by the deceased's own mistake, without any external factors involved. The Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka High Court's decision from November 23 of the previous year, which had rejected the family's claim for compensation.

The incident occurred on June 18, 2014, when N S Ravisha was driving a Fiat Linea from Mallasandra village to Arasikere town with his father, sister, and her children as passengers. According to reports, Ravisha was driving rashly and at a high speed, violating traffic rules before losing control of the vehicle near Mylanahalli gate in Arasikere. The car toppled over and rolled on the road, resulting in Ravisha's death due to the injuries he sustained.

Ravisha's wife, son, and parents filed a claim for ₹80 lakh, arguing that he was a busy contractor earning ₹3 lakh per month. However, the police filed a chargesheet stating that the accident was caused by Ravisha's rash and negligent driving. The Motor Accident Tribunal initially rejected the family's claim.

On appeal, the Karnataka High Court also rejected the family's argument that the accident was caused by a tire burst. The court emphasized that when a claim is made by the legal representatives of the deceased, it must be proven that the deceased was not at fault.

This ruling aligns with previous judgements stating that insurance companies are not liable for damages caused by the insured's own negligence or policy violations. For example, if a vehicle is used for commercial purposes while insured for agricultural purposes, the insurance company may not be liable. Similarly, insurance companies are generally not liable for gratuitous passengers, unless a specific personal accident cover has been purchased.