Personal Injury attorneys in South Africa

Mukwani Attorneys

Rosebank, Johannesburg, Gauteng Experience not supplied

Mukwani Attorneys is a Johannesburg-based law firm committed to providing professional, personalised and effective legal solutions. We assist individuals and businesses across a range of legal matters, including family law, divorce, criminal law, litigation, commercial law, labour law, property law and estates. Our approach is built on honesty, integrity, quality and excellence, with a focus on understanding each client's unique needs and providing practical legal guidance.

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Plain-language guide

What a personal injury attorney does.

A personal injury attorney claims compensation for people injured through the fault of others: Road Accident Fund claims after a motor vehicle accident, claims against property owners, municipalities and businesses for unsafe premises, dog attacks, assaults and police wrongdoing, and claims by the dependants of someone who has died. They gather the evidence, brief medical experts and quantify past and future loss.

When you need one

You were injured in a car, taxi, bus or pedestrian accident, whoever was at fault.
You fell or were hurt on someone else premises because of a hazard that should not have been there.
You or a family member was injured by a dog, an assault or wrongful arrest.
A breadwinner died in an accident and the family has lost their support.

How fees usually work

Personal injury claims are commonly run on contingency fee agreements: nothing if the claim fails, and on success up to double the normal fee capped at 25% of the amount recovered. Road Accident Fund claims can also be lodged directly with the Fund without an attorney. Ask what happens to expert costs if the claim fails and how the fee is calculated on the award.

Questions to ask before you instruct

Do I have a claim, against whom, and what is it likely to be worth?
When does it prescribe, and what must be lodged or served before then?
What are the exact terms of your contingency fee agreement?
How long will the claim take, and will I be kept informed?

See the listed practitioners Check the prescription date on a claim

General information about South African law and practice, not advice on your matter. The practitioners listed on this page give that advice.

Personal injury attorney questions

How long do I have to claim from the Road Accident Fund?

Three years from the date of the accident where the driver or owner is identified, and two years where they are not. Lodging the claim with the Fund suspends prescription, but if the claim is not settled summons must be served within five years of the accident. Minors have until a year after they turn 18.

Can I claim from the RAF if the accident was my fault?

A driver who was solely at fault cannot claim for their own injuries, but passengers, pedestrians and the dependants of a deceased driver can, and a driver who was partly at fault can claim a reduced amount. The Fund pays medical expenses, loss of earnings and support, and general damages for serious injuries only.

What can I claim for a personal injury?

Past and future medical expenses, past and future loss of earnings or earning capacity, loss of support for dependants of a deceased, and general damages for pain, suffering, disfigurement and loss of amenities of life. The amounts depend on the medical evidence and on comparable awards by the courts.

For the practitioners listed here

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