Motor Accident Claim (MACT): Claim Documents to Gather Quickly
Most MACT claim documents are scattered by the time the family calls you. The FIR copy is with a cousin, the bills are in a drawer, and the vehicle papers sit with the driver's employer. Someone has to put the file in order before a claim can be drafted.
A claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal needs proof of the accident, the injury or death, the victim's income and age, and the vehicle and insurance details. Under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the claim is filed before that Tribunal. Start with your usual client intake routine for advocates, then add the accident papers below.
Six mistakes that stall a MACT claim
1. Waiting for the FIR. A photo of the FIR in the family's chat cannot go into the file. Fix: ask the police station for a certified copy on day one, and note the FIR number on the file.
2. Bills without the medical record. A bill shows the cost. It does not show the injury or the treatment. Fix: collect the discharge summary and the treatment record with every bill. Medical bills claimed from an insurer follow their own list. See the health insurance reimbursement papers.
3. Income proof that stops early. One salary slip does not show earnings over a year. Fix: collect the latest slips, the last full year's tax return, or business records, whichever fits the victim's work.
4. No age proof. Families often have no birth certificate. Fix: look for a birth certificate first, then a school record or another official document. Note in the file which one you used, and why.
5. Vehicle papers in different names. The registration certificate, the insurance policy and the driving licence can each show a different person. Fix: check every name against the others before you draft, and keep a copy of each page.
6. Filing without checking the limitation period. A claim can be lost on time, not on merit. Fix: confirm the limitation position under section 166 on the day you take the file, and note the date of the accident beside it. The rule on time limits for these claims has been contested in court, so do not rely on memory.
Police papers arrive on their own clock
The police send a First Accident Report, Form I, to the Tribunal within 48 hours. They send a Detailed Accident Report, Form VII, within 90 days. The family rarely knows either report exists, so ask for copies once they reach the file. These clocks belong to the police. Your claim's own limitation period runs separately.
The complete MACT document list
- FIR, or a certified copy
- Form I and Form VII, once the police have sent them
- Medical records, discharge summary and treatment notes
- Itemised bills and receipts for each stage of treatment
- Income proof: salary slips, tax return or business records
- Age proof: birth certificate, or a school or official record
- Vehicle registration certificate, insurance policy and driving licence
- Death certificate and post-mortem report, or a disability certificate
- Your client's ID and address proof
If the victim has died, the legal heir proof is a separate job. The legal heir certificate list sets out what to gather for it.
Collect the accident file without the chase
Families send these papers in pieces, and the claim waits for the last one. Reposha, a WhatsApp alternative for client documents, gives the claim its own folder. Send one upload link with the list above. The family gets the link and a one-time code as two separate WhatsApp messages, then uploads from a phone or laptop, with no account to create.
Pages are in English and Hindi. Files go up to 25 MB each. Only staff with access to that client can open the files, and every open and download is logged in Reposha.
Start at reposha.com.
Questions people ask
What documents are needed for a motor accident claim?
The FIR, medical records and bills, proof of income and age, vehicle papers, and insurance and licence details. A death or disability certificate and legal heir proof are added where they apply.
Where is a motor accident claim filed?
Before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Check the limitation period on the day you take the file.
What reports does the police send to the Tribunal?
A First Accident Report (Form I) within 48 hours, and a Detailed Accident Report (Form VII) within 90 days. Ask for copies once they reach the file.
How should an advocate collect accident papers from a client?
Send one upload link with the full list, not a message per paper. Reposha, a WhatsApp alternative for client documents, gives each client a folder and logs every open and download.
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and dates change, so confirm before acting.
