When we’re in our 20s, most of us tend to take our youth for granted. But a Joburg man is painfully aware that he will never be able to fully enjoy the best years of his life after a highway accident left him with a debilitating back injury.
Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the attorneys at de Broglio Inc, Michael Samuels* has obtained a settlement of almost R1.16 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF), which will certainly help improve his quality of life.
Michael was barely 21 years old when he was involved in an accident on the M1 highway near Gold Reef City in January 2008.
On this notoriously dangerous stretch of road, another driver sped up behind him in the fast lane and just as Michael was moving into the next lane to let him past, the speedster clipped the back of his car. This caused Michael to lose control of his vehicle, collide with a barrier and come to a halt on the island in the middle of the highway.
Although lucky to escape with his life, Michael sustained a fractured vertebra in his lower back in the accident and consequently underwent an operation to have a spinal fusion done at two levels.
His back injury has had a devastating effect on this young man’s lifestyle. At an age when he should be going out and having fun with his friends, he can no longer work out at the gym, sit through a movie or even go dancing.
Michael works at his father’s security company, but is no longer able to install alarm systems. Because of his compromised mobility, it is doubtful that he will be able to take over the family business one day.
However, the RAF settlement – which acknowledged that the other driver was 100% to blame for the accident – plus an undertaking to cover his future medical expenses related to the crash, will go a long way toward helping him live with his back injury.
*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality
