updated: 13-Mar-13
South African roads are buzzing with taxis transporting the majority of the South African workforce between destinations. A workforce which is so integral to the economy but which is not protected like private road users with seatbelts in the taxis. de Broglio Inc have consulted and represented hundreds of taxi passengers over the years who have suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of an accident which may have been less devastating had they been travelling wearing a seatbelt.
Jacob Motala* was a paying passenger in a taxi travelling along the N17 Highway in 2007. They were towing another taxi which had broken down when suddenly a motor vehicle collided with the taxi being towed, forcing it into the taxi Jacob was in which then overturned as a result of the collision.
Jacob suffered a mild head injury and loss of normal cervical lordosis and his head is now held slightly more forward than the normal centre of gravity. These injuries had an adverse effect on his employability and ability to work as he did before the accident.
Jacob contacted de Broglio Inc Attorneys to enquire about submitting a claim against the Road Accident Fund. The well experienced team at de Broglio Inc consulted with him and began instituting his claim.
His injuries impacted significantly on his employment where he had worked installing garage doors. He lost his job because he was no longer able to lift heavy objects or to lift objects above his head. Since he sustained these injuries, his income has become extremely unstable and he described his life as living “hand to mouth” since the accident.
On the day of trial, de Broglio Inc settled Jacob’s case for R450 000.00 and he was very happy with his settlement. He was very happy with the services provided by de Broglio Inc throughout the duration of the claim and commented that he was glad that he had not gone directly to the Road Accident Fund like other people he knew had because they had received far less compensation than he had.
*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.