At Adendorff Attorneys Inc., we are committed to fighting for the rights of those injured in tragic accidents. We are proud to have been able to help a single mother receive the substantial pay-out she was entitled to from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) after she was seriously injured in a road accident.
Cases like this show us how lives can change instantly and underscores the importance of the RAF providing fair compensation to those who have suffered life-changing injuries. We will continue to fight for the rights of accident victims and their families and ensure they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
*Cebisa contacted us for help in claiming damages from the Road Accident Fund.
In 2016, Cebisa was injured in a car accident while her vehicle was parked at a bus stop. Two cars collided behind her, with her car being rear-ended and the other car hitting her car on the right side. She noticed numbness and movement problems in her legs but did not lose consciousness. The ambulance took Cebisa to Khayelitsha District Hospital. She was then transferred to Tygerberg Hospital, where she spent a month being treated before her discharge to the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre.
Life after the accident
Cebisa suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left her paralysed from the chest down. She has no feeling or movement in her lower body and no control over her bladder and bowel function. In addition to the physical problems, she also suffers from mood swings, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD can lead to intense, upsetting thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event long after it has passed. A person with PTSD may relive the event in flashbacks or nightmares, feel sadness, fear, or anger, and have difficulty connecting with others.
After the accident, Cebisa and her young son moved back in with her mother and stepfather so they could help her. They also had to hire a caregiver during the day. At the time of the accident, Cebisa worked as an administrative assistant. Unfortunately, she has not been able to return to work since her tragic car accident. To make ends meet, she opened a small business from home selling biscuits, juices and breakfast snacks to school children.
Although her business brought in around R700 a month, she still had to rely on a disability pension to make ends meet. The pay-out for her injuries will mean she no longer has to struggle and will get the medical and practical support she needs to live a full life.
The court decided that appointing a trustee would be the best way to protect her funds. This will ensure that all of her needs are met and that her money will be managed by someone who will ensure that it lasts for the rest of her life. This gives clients peace of mind that they will not be taken advantage of or harmed because of their money.
Calculating the Personal Injury Claim
Adendorff Attorneys Inc. assembled a team of experts to evaluate Cebisa’ s injuries and her case. Our team of medical experts evaluated her injuries, while our financial experts examined the impact of her inability to work on her future.
The actuary and industrial psychologist looked at what she had earned in the past and estimated how much she would have continued to earn had she not been injured. They then took this data and turned it into numbers based on various schedules and trends to calculate how much she had lost. Most importantly, they calculated how much she would have earned if she had not been injured.
The matter was settled before trial, with the Road Accident Fund admitting 100% liability, which made them liable to pay for 100% of Cebisa’ s proven damages. The judge awarded a capital amount of R4,516,475.00 for general damages, past medical expenses, future medical expenses and future loss of earnings and income.
Working with Adendorff Attorneys Inc. on the Personal Injury Claim
Adendorff Attorneys Inc. was honoured to assist this brave young woman with her personal injury case against the RAF. “It was a great honour to help Cebisa with her case against the Road Accident Fund. Despite all the difficulties she has faced since the accident, she has always shown strength and dignity. I want to thank Cebisa for trusting me, and I hope that the outcome of the case provides her with some peace of mind,” says Hanene Steynberg, a personal injury attorney at Adendorff Attorneys Inc.
*Name has been changed to protect client privacy.
Due to the many factors that affect an individual case, we cannot guarantee a similar outcome in a future case.
Do You Have a Personal Injury Claim?
WhatsApp Adendorff Attorneys Inc. on 076 911 7300 to speak with us about your claim, and we will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation.
