South Africa’s extensive rail network is the 14th longest in the world, carrying approximately 2.2-million people every day. Safety and security are a high priority, but have come under fire in recent months for a number of reasons, some based on criminal activities and others based on negligence.
Anyone affected by these incidents may qualify to pursue PRASA accident claims for compensation from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, the South African state-owned enterprise responsible for most passenger rail services in the country. Therefore, incidents involving Metrorail, Transnet and Shosholoza Meyl may, depending on the circumstances, involve a claim against PRASA.
Here’s what you need to know about PRASA accident claims
Your claim is a civil claim and therefore you generally have up to 3 years to lodge your claim.
You will need to provide as much detail as possible about what happened:
a. Date of accident
b. Time of accident
c. Place of accident
d. Any other details about the incident
You will need to produce proof of being a passenger on the train, for example by providing your train ticket.
If you have photographic or video evidence, that could help support your claim too.
You may be tempted to approach PRASA directly regarding your claim, but you may be better served by being represented by an attorney who is familiar with PRASA accident claims and understands the process involved.
At Gert Nel Inc Attorneys, we don’t just represent you, we assist you all the way.
With our years of experience dealing with traumatised individuals, we appreciate what people are going through and treat each and every client with due respect and care. We are able to advise you on all aspects of PRASA accident claims and keep you updated every step of the way, either telephonically or via our app depending on each individual’s preference. If a client is based in a remote location, we will find a way to get there.