Accident survivor gets compensated
LAWYERS FORK OUT OVERDUE PAYMENT
PATRICIA Legobate, 27, survives on her child’s grant, while she has R250 000 sitting in her attorney’s trust account.
Legobate, of SchweizerReneke in the North West, said her ordeal started on January 20 2010 when a van hit her and her left leg fractured.
She now has a metal rod holding her leg in place.
The driver of the van had overlooked a construction sign.
Legobate was hospitalised for two weeks, resulting in her losing her job.
She said on the day she was hospitalised, she received a visit from a male representative of Wim Krynauw Attorneys, who offered to help her claim from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
“I was surprised and thought I was hallucinating as I had just returned from the operating room,” she said.
Three days after she was discharged, the representative fetched her and accompanied her to the police station to make an accident report, Legobate said.
The RAF awarded her about R400 000, but she has only received R116 000, which was paid in 2013, she said.
Legobate said the compensation was for loss of earnings and damages.
Legobate built a threeroomed house with her initial payment, and since then has survived on her child’s government grant and help from her pensioned parents and unemployed boyfriend.
She said all went well until last November when she was due to receive the latest payment of her compensation.
“They no longer knew me and also could not locate my file when I made inquiries,” said Legobate.
She said she was told there was no money.
Legobate later visited the offices of the RAF to inquire, and discovered that the fund had paid R240 000 into the lawyer’s trust account in early November.
Consumer Line took up her matter with Wim Krynauw law firm a week ago, and Legobate’s money was paid within 24 hours.
Hein Nortje and Fiona Carbutt of Wim Krynauw Attorneys responded by calling Legobate to collect her money after receiving our e-mail last Monday.
They have not responded to the allegations Legobate made against the law firm, but they issued her with a cheque for R171 600 on Tuesday morning.
“I hope this includes the interest since my money has been sitting in their account for the past three months,” said a thankful Legobate.