THE RAF CLAIM PROCESS
The role of the Road Accident Fund (“RAF”) is to provide compensation to people within the
borders of South Africa who sustain bodily injuries or death caused by a negligent driver in a road
accident.
1. Who is entitled to make a claim?
- An injured person
- A dependent of a person who died in an accident
- A close relative who paid for funeral expenses of a person who died in an accident
- A parent or legal guardian of a minor child
- A foster parent
- An executor of a deceased’s estate
- A curator/curatrix ad litem (appointed to act in a lawsuit on behalf of a child or other
- person not capable of representing themselves due to mental illness/unsound mind).
2. What can be claimed for?
- Medical expenses which include emergency and non-emergency medical treatment, only in cases where the expenses have not been paid by medical aid.
- Past and future loss of earnings or income
- Future medical expenses
- General damages for serious injuries
- Funeral expenses, and
- Past and future loss of support
For more information, visit the RAF on www.raf.co.za or call 087 820 1 111.
RAF IMPLORES ROAD USERS TO MAKE THIS EASTER A FATALITY FREE WEEKEND
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) pleads with South African road users to make this Easter fatality free by using the roads responsibly. Road fatalities and trauma result in devastating emotional, social and economic costs to the victims, their families and the country. This calls
for an immediate change of attitude by all road users.
Easter 2024 recorded the highest Easter weekend fatalities since 2019 with 335 deaths. This was a sharp increase from 252 deaths in 2023. Human error, vehicle failure, and environmental factors all significantly contributed to the 1 325 fatalities recorded from 2019 to 2024 Easter weekend car crashes. Major human factor contributors are speeding, jaywalking, and hit-and-run. Vehicle related factors that resulted in the highest accidents were tyre bursts, brake failures, and smooth tyres. Environmental factors such as poor visibility, sharp bends, stray animals, and road surface defects also jeopardise peoples’ road safety and require caution.
In the 2023-2024 financial year, the RAF settled claims to the value of R45.6 billion. The amount included R47 million for funeral claims, R21.6 billion for Loss of Earnings, R12.7 billion for General Damages, R2.6 billion for Loss of Support, and R1.7 billion for Medical Compensation. These are the Fund’s product benefits that qualifying road accident victims can claim for from the Fund.
