Road Accident Fund (RAF)

The Road Accident Fund is financed by collecting a small percentage on top of all the petrol and diesel purchased at the pump in South Africa and this is used to finance compensation for road traffic injuries by the state supported Road Accident Fund.

The Fund, which is a de facto insurer, compensates those who are seriously injured in road traffic accidents that they were not solely responsible for causing.

There are three main forms that need to be filled out and submitted to the Road Accident Fund for you to start a personal injury claim for injuries suffered in a Road Traffic Accident.

These are the forms;

1. RAF 1 form

RAF 1 form you have to include the basic information about the claimant, details of the vehicles and the other people involved in the road traffic accident. Also to be included is a detailed description of the events leading up to and including the road traffic accident. The RAF 1 form also has to have the amount that is being claimed and a medical report from the claimant’s doctor or consultant. All claims for compensation to the Road Accident Fund need this form.

2. RAF 3 form

This is a statutory form which includes the accident report and the statements of any witnesses to the Road Traffic Accident.

3. RAF 4 form Otherwise it is often known as the Serious Injury Assessment Report.

The Serious Injury Assessment Report confirms that the injury suffered is serious enough to warrant the award of compensation to the injured claimant. The Serious Injury Assessment Report needs to be backed by your medical reports, financial receipts, financial statements as well as any other documents that can support your claim.

All this sounds all too easy and you can make a direct claim without our help in doing so but you must remember that the Road Accident Fund is not on your side and any error or omission that you make in submitting your RAF claim may well count against you in reducing your compensation and may in some cases invalidate your claim.

We are able to assess your claim, as your Road accident fund attorney Johannesburg and we can ensure that it is submitted with the appropriate supporting documentation, we are able to advise you as to whether you should accept any settlement offer from the RAF and, if necessary, we can guide you through the appeals process. Do not forget we work on a No Win No Fee basis so do not hesitate and contact us now on 087 550 4031 for a free initial consultation WITHOUT obligation at a time that is convenient to you

If a “breadwinner” in your family is killed in a road traffic accident, you can claim for their loss of their financial support and their funeral costs. You should be aware that “a breadwinner” does not necessarily mean the leading “breadwinner” in the family. A House hold or family often has more than one “breadwinner” as spouses, children may also be earning. Generally all victims of road traffic accidents can claim compensation for their medical expenses, their loss of earnings and, in some cases that involve serious injury and general damages for pain and suffering.

Any compensation claim has to be lodged with the RAF within three years from the date of the accident, with a notable exception that when the identity of the driver or owner of the vehicle (normally hit and run accidents) who was involved in the road traffic accident is unknown then the time limit is two years. Call us now, your RAF lawyer Johannesburg on 087 550 4031 for a free initial consultation WITHOUT obligation at a time that is convenient to you.