updated: 05-Mar-17
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is well known amongst the legal practitioners who sue the organization for offering severely inadequate compensation to victims of road accidents. At de Broglio Attorneys Inc. we take pride in challenging these offers and increasing them so that our clients always receive the most compensation possible.
Sameera Naidoo’s* life was shattered into a million pieces when her husband was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident. She turned to de Broglio Attorneys Inc. for assistance during this dark time in her life and they provided a light at the end of the tunnel for her. She found out about de Broglio Attorneys Inc. through a relative of hers. She said, “My step daughter referred me to your firm, she lives in Cape Town. I think she saw one of your TV adverts and told me about you.”
De Broglio Attorneys Inc. handled Sameera’s RAF claim from beginning to end giving her the peace of mind that her matter was in good hands. Sameera said, “The claim process was fine but it is a waiting game. I am trying to recuperate from my husband’s death and I am glad the claim is over now so I can move forward.”
In Sameera’s case, the RAF initially made an offer of R200,000.00 for past medical expenses only. de Broglio Attorneys Inc. advised her not to accept such an offer and managed to increase this offer substantially by R777,000.00 to R977,000.00 in respect of past medical expenses as well as loss of support.
Sameera was relieved that she had de Broglio Attorneys Inc. to assist her because she did not know that R200,000.00 was a significant under offer. She said, “We went to court and it was not a hassle at all. I really appreciate all of your help. Thanks for the help and everything. I didn’t even have to say anything. I didn’t think I would get so much. It was a surprise. Thanks for everything you have done for me. It was a hectic time of my life but I got through it and the compensation will help me in the future.”
The RAF regularly offers low compensation figures which a regular person would not be able to realize that the offer is inadequate. This case illustrates the exact dangers of relying on the Road Accident Fund to make settlement offers, without challenging them and taking them to court. This is why if you have been seriously injured you need a lawyer on your side to avoid falling for this trap and accepting a dismal offer from the RAF.
*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.