Accident claim compensation amount is not realistic
In South Africa the
accident claims award scheme is being criticised for not handing out realistic compensation amounts to victims. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is said to be ‘out of touch’ with reality when it comes to settlement money for individuals from road accidents. An example of this is the case of Ezekie Mongonyama of Ga-Rankuwa who claims that the R450 000 in damages for an accident claim after he lost his right leg in a
car accident was far too little.
Mongonyama’s job as a taxi driver soon became very difficult and he claims he received no compensation for future loss of income. To further add insult to the injury, the amount was decided out of court and there was no discussion involving the settlement value.
He stated: “I feel I received too little compensation considering the severity of my injury. I have become permanently disabled after losing my leg. Prior to the accident I was healthy, energetic and had a good capacity to work. Today I am suffering the consequences of the accident because my working capacity has become severely compromised. I asked the RAF's office in Pretoria how this amount was arrived at, but they told me there was simply nothing they could do. I want to know why I was paid so little.”Updated on 23/10/2008