Road Accident Fund South Africa
Helping South Africans understand RAF
claims after serious road accidents.
The Road Accident Fund exists to provide compensation to people who are injured, or to certain family members of people who are killed, in motor vehicle accidents in South Africa.
A serious road accident can change your life in a moment. Medical treatment, time away from work, financial pressure, and uncertainty about what to do next can feel overwhelming.
At Gert Nel Inc, we help injured road users and families understand the RAF system, assess whether they may have a valid claim, and guide them through the claim process with dignity, clarity, and care.
What Is the Road Accident Fund?
The Road Accident Fund, often referred to as the RAF, is a South African compensation fund that provides cover for people who suffer injury or loss because of motor vehicle accidents.
In simple terms, the RAF is designed to help compensate qualifying road accident victims and certain dependants where an accident was caused by the negligent driving of a motor vehicle.
This may include accidents involving:
- Drivers
- Passengers
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Motorcyclists
- Families or dependants of a person who died in a road accident
The RAF also provides indemnity to the negligent driver. This means that, in many cases, an injured person does not have to sue the driver directly for compensation.
How Is the Road Accident Fund Funded?
The Road Accident Fund is primarily funded through the RAF Fuel Levy.
This levy is included in the fuel price in South Africa. Every time petrol or diesel is purchased, a portion contributes towards the RAF system.
The exact levy amount may change over time, but the purpose remains the same: to help fund compensation for qualifying road accident victims and families affected by fatal motor vehicle accidents.
Who May Qualify for a RAF Claim?
You may be able to claim from the Road Accident Fund if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident and the accident was not entirely your fault.
This may apply if:
- You were a driver injured in an accident caused partly or fully by another driver
- You were a passenger injured in a motor vehicle accident
- You were a pedestrian hit by a vehicle
- You were a cyclist or motorcyclist injured in a road accident
- You were financially dependent on someone who died in a motor vehicle accident
- You paid funeral expenses after a fatal road accident
Every matter is different. Whether you qualify will depend on the facts of the accident, the available evidence, and the legal requirements that apply to your claim.
We can assess your matter and advise you on the prospects of success.
What Can You Claim From the Road Accident Fund?
Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the nature of the loss suffered, a RAF claim may include compensation for different types of damages.
These may include:
Medical Expenses
You may be able to claim for reasonable medical expenses linked to injuries caused by the motor vehicle accident.
Loss of Earnings
If your injuries affected your ability to work, earn an income, or return to your usual occupation, you may be able to claim for past and future loss of earnings.
General Damages
General damages relate to pain, suffering, and loss of amenities of life. These claims usually apply where the injury meets the legal requirement of being serious.
Loss of Support
If a breadwinner died in a road accident, their dependants may be able to claim for the financial support they have lost.
Funeral Expenses
In fatal accident matters, certain reasonable funeral expenses may be claimed from the Road Accident Fund.
Why RAF Claims Can Feel Overwhelming
The RAF claim process can involve documents, medical reports, expert assessments, deadlines, and legal requirements. For many injured people and families, this comes at a time when they are already trying to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
You do not have to navigate the process alone.
Gert Nel Inc is a specialised personal injury law firm established in 2001. We guide clients through RAF claims step by step, explain what to expect, and keep clients updated throughout the process. Through the Gert Nel Inc Claims Update App, clients can also access claim updates in real time.
RAF Claim Process
Understand the steps involved in a RAF claim, from assessment and documentation to lodgement and finalisation.
RAF In the News
Read more about RAF-related developments, legal updates, media coverage, and matters involving Gert Nel Inc.
RAF FAQs
Find plain-language answers to common questions about Road Accident Fund claims.
Speak to Gert Nel Inc About Your RAF Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, we can assess your matter, explain your options, and advise you on the prospects of success for a Road Accident Fund claim.