updated: 29-Jan-20
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is notorious for professing that attorneys will overcharge you if you use them to help you in claiming from the RAF. What they don’t tell you is that they do not want the expertise of an attorney involved because that would mean they would need to pay you what your claim is worth, instead of paying you as little as possible. They want you to try to do it alone so that they can rely on your ignorance and offer you much less than what your claim is worth. This has happened over and over again and the fact is, that even after the legal fees have been deducted from your payout, you will still get more out of your claim if you use a reputable attorney than if you go directly to the RAF and try to make a claim by yourself as happened with one of de Broglio’s clients below.
Gerhard Bloom*felt that “the universe instantaneously ganged up against me after the accident” when he was hit by a taxi while crossing a road. “I underwent a double shoulder replacement which caused my work to suffer and led me to being medically boarded. My life was turned upside down as a husband, father and provider. I was literally left crippled leaving all the responsibility to my wife,” he explained.
Gerhard approached the RAF directly about a month after his accident occurred in order to make a claim. He did not want to have to pay an attorney because he thought it would cost him too much but he soon realized that without legal help he had no chance of a good payout. He said, “At first I was going to lodge a claim on my own with the RAF, but realised soon enough that I was not going to be compensated fairly for the loss incurred.”
Approximately three months thereafter, the RAF made an interim offer in the amount of R9,838.76 in total. He was extremely unhappy with this amount. “I tried on several occasions to negotiate for a fair settlement with no success. I was fighting a losing battle,” Gerhard added.
Gerhard approached de Broglio Attorneys two months later as from that point there had been no further action by the RAF. He commented, “I heard on the television about de Broglio Attorneys and decided to go and pay them a visit. I immediately went to see them at their office. I was welcomed in a very professional manner and was introduced to David who assisted me with such excellence, I immediately knew I was in good hands. In no time my application was completed and the ball was on the role.”
Gerhard had made the best decision to go to de Broglio Attorneys and said, “de Broglio arranged everything including doctors and specialist assessments. They left no stone unturned and made sure I was well taken care of medically and psychologically by the best doctors in the country. While I was recuperating at home, paying attention to my marriage and family, de Broglio was taking care of the legal matters. Mike and his team of attorneys professionally took charge of my case and kept me well informed as the time passed on the progress of the case. It took about four years to conclude the case and I was kept informed by means of emails and calls from time to time. On a monthly basis I would receive an email as to the progress of my claim leaving me well informed with matters relating to my case. I salute them for their professionalism and excellence. Doctors’ appointments were scheduled on time. I had no alternative but to ensure I was ready and on time and I never missed one appointment. de Broglio went as far as to assist with transport to and from my appointments.”
de Broglio Attorneys settled Gerhard’s matter for R1,286 695.44. That is 131 times more than what the RAF offered him when he approached them alone. The amount they settled his claim for is substantially more than what the RAF were offering him at the time of him trying to make a claim without an attorney’s assistance.
Gerhard was ecstatic with his settlement, “Thanks to Mike and his team for a job well done! I had the best team on my side: my Attorney Jadine Richards and my advocate Amelia Van Der Merwe handled my case in court with such professionalism and I was awarded a substantial amount. Words fail me and my family to express our gratitude. Thanks to Mike and his team brilliant job done.”
*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.