Have you recently been involved in a motor vehicle collision? How do you know if you have a claim against the Road Accident Fund? Molefe Dlepu Incorporated provides some essential insight into the matter:
You may have a claim if you were one of the following:
- A passenger in a motor vehicle that was involved in a collision.
- A driver of a motor vehicle that was involved in a collision with another motor vehicle.
- A pedestrian who was injured/hit by a motor vehicle.
- A cyclist or motorbike rider who was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle.
- If someone whom you are financially dependent on dies in a motor vehicle collision.
- A close family member of a deceased person who died as a result of a motor vehicle accident, who paid for the funeral expenses.
Did you sustain a serious injury as a result of this collision?
What is a serious injury?
An injury is serious if it has any of the following:
- Long-term impairment of a bodily function.
- Loss of a body function.
- Permanent, severe disfigurement.
- Serious long-term mental or behavioural disturbances or disorders.
- The loss of an unborn child.
A medical practitioner will have to assess you to determine if your injury is regarded as “serious”.
What can I claim from the Road Accident Fund?
You can claim the following:
- Medical expenses already incurred as a result of injuries/treatment, received for injuries sustained in the collision – you will need invoices and proof that you paid for these expenses.
- Future Medical Expenses, this means that the Road Accident Fund will pay for treatment/medication that you may need in the future.
- Funeral Expenses – to be claimed by the person who paid for the expense.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of income suffered as a result of the accident.
- Loss of support suffered as a result of an accident, i.e, minor child, parent, or any person who is being financially supported can claim for loss of support as a result of death of a person who was their financial provider.
Documents needed to proceed with your claim:
- Identity document or passport.
- Affidavit stating how the accident occurred.
- Your hospital records.
- Salary slips or bank statements proving income if claiming loss of income/loss of support.
- Accident report.
Prescription
You have three years to lodge a claim with the Road Accident Fund from the date of the accident. If one of the vehicles involved is unidentified (hit-and-run), this period decreases to two years.
Claims of minor children only prescribe 3 years after they turn 18, unless the identity of the vehicle is unknown, then it must be done within 2 years.
Molefe Dlepu Incorporated has a highly skilled team of attorneys and litigation secretaries to assist you with your claim. We also make use of a network of experts to determine the necessary claim amount.
