BUSINESS OF THE ROAD ACCIDENT FUND

HOW MUCH YOU CAN CLAIM

WITH the festive season fast approaching and car accident rates rising in numbers over this period, it’s worthwhile knowing where you stand with claiming from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) if you are involved in an accident.

Although the caps and thresholds to claiming compensation that were introduced in 2008 have undoubtedly influenced the overall value of payouts in recent years, payouts in cases of serious injury are still significant

If you’ve been seriously injured or a breadwinner in your family has been killed in a road accident, it’s worth finding out if you’re entitled to compensation.

The average claim in 2017 was R117 059, compared with R143 127 in the previous financial year.

The RAF provides compensation in four main categories: for loss of income or support, medical costs, funeral costs and general damages.

Compensation for loss of support and funeral costs may be paid in cases where the breadwinner in a family has died in a road accident.

The value of an RAF payout will depend on a number of factors, such as:

◆ The extent to which you were responsible for causing a road accident, if you were involved as a driver.

◆ The nature and severity of your injuries, and their likely consequences over the short and long term, as determined by medical experts.

◆ The current and likely future medical costs associated with your injuries.

◆ And the extent of loss of income or support as a direct result of injuries sustained in a road accident.

Note that the RAF pays road accident victims general damages for pain and suffering only in cases of serious injuries. | Kirstie Haslam, a partner at DSC Attorneys