Third Party Claims primarily involves litigating claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for compensation relating to bodily injuries or the death of a breadwinner caused by a motor vehicle accident on a public road in South Africa. The law is governed by the RAF Act, which requires claimants to prove negligence on the part of the insured driver and adhere to strict statutory time limits and procedural requirements.

Our firm provides dedicated legal representation to accident victims, ensuring that they receive fair and maximized compensation for their losses. We manage the entire claims process, from reporting the accident and gathering necessary medical and police documentation, to quantifying damages (including past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and general damages for pain and suffering), and negotiating or litigating the claim against the RAF. Our expertise is focused on overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles and legal technicalities that often delay or reduce rightful compensation.

Key areas of our Third Party Claims expertise include:

• 🔹 RAF Claim Lodgement and Management: Preparing and lodging claims accurately within the prescriptive time limits, and managing all correspondence and procedural requirements with the RAF.
• 🔹 Loss Quantification: Working with actuaries, industrial psychologists, and medical specialists to accurately calculate claims for loss of earnings, loss of support (in fatal cases), and future medical care costs.
• 🔹 General Damages Assessment: Securing the necessary Serious Injury Assessment Reports (the RAF 4 form) from specialists to meet the threshold for general damages (pain and suffering).
• 🔹 Negligence and Merits Investigation: Investigating the circumstances of the accident, securing police reports, and ensuring the negligence of the insured driver is legally established.
• 🔹 Litigation and Settlement: Representing clients in pre-trial settlements and, when necessary, litigating the matter in the High Court to secure a just outcome.