Self employed victims entitled future prospects addition loss income computation permanent disability

A self-employed victim or a person working on fixed wages who suffers permanent disability in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to an addition towards future prospects while computing the total loss of income. When calculating prospective economic loss for self-employed claimants below thirty years of age, an addition of 40 percent must be incorporated into the established baseline monthly income before applying the relevant multiplier and disability percentage. Excluding future prospects from the assessment of loss of earning capacity for self-employed accident victims artificially deprives them of just compensation reflecting prospective career progression and inflationary trends. (S. Shakul Hameed v. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited | 2026 INSC 29)