Injuries which may generally be considered minor, such as a fracture, can, depending on the type and severity of the fracture for example, have a major negative effect on the person injured. In this case, a fractured foot led to the client being dismissed from work as he was unable to fulfil the requirements of the job as he did before the accident due to his injury. de Broglio Inc and their team of experts took the case on and fought to get the client his duly deserved compensation from the Road Accident Fund.
Mohammed Laikin* was working as a general labourer loading a truck with goods when a motor vehicle drove over his left foot and fractured his ankle. De Broglio Inc arranged for Mohammed to consult with a leading Orthopaedic Surgeon in Johannesburg who advised that he was at risk of developing osteo-arthritis in his ankle and would need reconstructive surgery of his ankle. The Road Accident Fund sent Mohammed to their own Orthopaedic Surgeon who concurred with de Broglio Inc’s expert regarding this future surgery. This would be an expensive procedure and de Broglio Inc ensured they included in his claim compensation to cover this treatment.
Mohammed’s job required manual labour and due his injury he was unable to continue working as he did before the accident. He was dismissed from his employment as a result and has been unemployed for the majority of the time since the accident occurred in April 2009. This loos of income was included in his claim by de Broglio Inc.
Mohammed was training to be a driver at his last employment which would have secured him an increase in his salary but he was unable to continue along this path due to his ankle injury. He consulted with further experts arranged by de Broglio Inc and these experts advised that he would only be able to work in a sedentary position going forward. Unfortunately, due to Mohammed’s level of education, he would not be able to secure such a position leading to a substantial future loss of income as he would remain unemployable due to his injury. This loss was also included in his claim by his attorney.
de Broglio Inc argued against the Road Accident Fund in favour of Mohammed taking all of these aspects of his claim into consideration. They settled his matter and received compensation for Mohammed in the amount of R652 788.16. Mohammed was very pleased with this result and he is also currently receiving a monthly disability grant.
*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality
