Caught up in a car accident

in South Africa, may force a party to claim damages from the wrongdoer,

or may lead to the need to defend against inflated or unrealistic claims.

RAMLA - Road Accident Management & Legal Action

Car accident lawyers and professional claim managers, enforcing traffic collision damages, effective, decisive but affordable.

Caught up in a traffic collision were motor cars/vehicles been involved, most of the time material damage or damage to property such as cars or other amenities, will come along with the impact.

An impact causes damages and compensation for repairs is automatically at stake.





RAMLA do concentrate on material or financial damage compensation claims, to get you be paid from the wrongdoer and/or liable party, in an accident scenario.

Such compensation claim can be one directly targeted against a wrongdoer in person, or dealing with representatives such as Lawyers or Motor Insurance Company claim deciders as a 3rd party claim.

Any claim needs to be funded on evidence and factual arguments supported by proof.

Proofing a claim is often easier said as done, as proof comes - in almost all cases - from the circumstances of the accident and evidence need attention right at the scene of impact.

Given if it is missed to secure evidence at the scene and its been not thoroughly attended to, it is time to do it now and act to secure all facts possible.

It is certainly not impossible to get such evidence, even in time after the accident, but it can be more difficult.

It may happen that potential witnesses left without identification, debris be cleared, faulty traffic lights be repaired, or CCTV footage deleted.

Pictures from the scene, document vehicle positions - damages etc., can only be taken, if and when cars still be in its places, which - once available - will have significant value in proofing facts and help reconstruct the impact or scenario.







As much important evidence is in itself, it is evenly relevant to know how to use it.

The ultimate goal is to be compensated for losses.

Experience is needed to be knowledgably and competently in order to address a claim and achieve a fair compensation pay.





Once a claim formulated, documented and served, still the reaction of other parties needs to be waited for and the content thereof to be analysed.

Results will define actions as what steps will or need to be taken next.





As a claim is formulated and supplied, it is to no certainty that reporting a fair claim, even if it is well documented, must lead the other party agree and accept and certainly pay the damages claimed.

Disputes can arise about the way all unfolded, the question of liability can be seen from different points of view, damage value or Quantum be under dispute and many more aspects of disputes can be raised, too much to get to in this column.





Another weak point can be a lack in knowledge how to handle a compensation claim.

People only looking for some advice only a while or even after a longer period of time, past the actual accident, and visit Web Pages such as this one you browse now - often late, and in the meantime doing all they can to address a compensation action to his/her own knowledge.



Many try to act on what may be at hand and they find and regard themselves to be fit for it.

This may work for a number of cases, as matters are clear and facts at hand are strong in its evidential role and the opponent or defendant do not argue unfair.

However it would be too optimistic to believe it is the normality. It is not, as it is almost the opposite, as many cases end up unsatisfactory.





Results or settlement offers may be incorrect in adjustment of liability, often named as contribution to the accident, by not adhere to all the duties, citing perhaps unreasonable precedents and/or allege and apply apportionment.

That may lead to significant losses, shortfalls or complete denial/repudiation of a claim.

Not any layman may be qualified to see through all of that and know if all what one faces in terms of reaction or settlement offers, will be fair and correct.

We do believe it is worth taking time and effort to check out on any doubt, before accepting any proposal.





Sometimes bodily injuries occur in a vehicle collision inflicting harm and pain to humans.

Even bodily injuries do have in some way a financial component and a victim need to be compensated in order to cope with recovery and subsequent costs etc.

However - we the author of this Web Platform - RAMLA - do not deal with bodily injuries claims.

Many specialised lawyers offer its services to solve matters pertaining a RAF (Road Accident Fund,) - bodily injury compensation claim, but the South African Government recommend a victim to first check and find out if one can claim without any specialist, in order not to spend a large portion of compensation on Lawyers fees.

We are specialised expert's in all respects to motor car accident damage compensation

claiming damages, defending against unreasonable or inflated claims, working in Motor Insurance disputes, in all those subjects over a long period of almost 15 years.

We attended thousands of requests, analysing, supporting and pursue material car accident claims, expertly, effective, economical and affordable.

Such excellent service can be to your service Nationwide, in South Africa.

Road Accident Management & Legal Action (RAMLA) can professionally represent clients, taking care of their interests, which can be the solution you may look for.

You will find a lot more of useful information on the RAMLA web pages.

Check out for keyword links in the left column to select your topic.

Initially important is, to know the definition of what we have to understand, is full and fair motor accident damage compensation.

But even before doing so, we have to clarify that the South African System of motor car accident compensation, is split into the sector of bodily injuries, which deals with compensation actions regarding injuries to the human body and material damages, such as compensation for car destruction or consequential damages.

The RAMLA web pages, you are browsing currently, only focus on material damage compensation and civil claim actions to be financial/material losses paid for full and fair, resulting from traffic accidents.







In terms of compensation, the South African law say:

You should materially be compensated to the state before accident, so that you will be able to repair your car to pre-collision status, or if repair cost will exceed such pre-collision or market value; and the car be called a write off, be compensated to the amount of money the car been worth to time of impact, minus any sellable value or Salvage of the vehicle.





That means either you cannot expect a new car (some exemptions excluded here i.e. if your motor vehicle new, not older than a year since being on the road the first time, or depreciation kick in, if your car is fairly used and the marks of wear and tear, impacting your auto value to a specific time.

But even an older motor car must be repaired to manufacturer's standards to maintain the roadworthy status, as long as it will not be a write off.

Motor car accident damage claims may get into difficulties, once another party do not agree with what is claimed for.

Differences may be to condition of Quantum/Repair costs or of Liability.

Disputes must be addressed and corroborated by factual evidence, such as witness statements or pictures, CCTV footage or any other suitable evidence.

A successful claim should be supported by merits, so the other party do not have much to argue, but compelled to accept the claim demand and pay.

A claim launched with your own motor insurance company (comprehensive claim), will have to look on what you have covered under your policy, before any acceptance can be decided upon.

Depending on the cover taken, it can be the insured did accept some contribution, such as excess and the claim process need to be according to terms & conditions of the insurance contract.

A 3rd party claim, directed to the perpetrator however, must give you full compensation and no clauses, as insurance excess or any limitations in a insurance policy apply. Only the law of delict will be applicable to decide liability.

Any claim for car accident damage compensation can go wrong, be disputed or even declined.



As soon as in the process of a claim pursuit any disturbance or unusual investigation requests are noticed, it will be highly advisable to check critically, if your own knowledge and skill is sufficient to perform a vehicle crash compensation action your own, or if you should consider practical support by professionals.

A claim for compensation against another car driver or vehicle owner is a process and cannot be explained in a sentence.

There is a lot about the way to claim and about dispute issues or problems, that can occur in a particular and always individual case, on our comprehensive WEB info platform.

However, as it is often the case, individual problems need individual answers and/or actions.

You are invited to contact RAMLA for a free initial case analyse and advice, by contact us by email ramla@ramla.co.za tell us what happened and the problems you face or expect, for a free reply and advice.

Should you do not like contacting us now, but need more information, check the keyword list to select your issue and find more on the linked page.

Defending against inflated claims isn't as challenging as perhaps thought.

Defence against unrealistic, unjustified or inflated claims is a need to do, if alleged to be held liable for car accident damages, which do not fall in your responsibilities.

It is always an inconvenient situation when defensive actions are needed, as to alleged of wrongdoing, which isn't true or fair.

However any person unfairly accused of wrongdoing and causing damages to another in a motor car collision, must enter into defence, not to risk to be sued and end up innocently be judged against one and subsequently face execution, against all of your property.

It should be noted that a claim against a person, is only dangerous, if not defended properly.

Defensive actions mean, deny a claim and its accusation, simple and clear and request proof of facts and merits.

Only if such evidential facts indeed be supplied and its content suest not to allow challenging the accusation, it will be advisable to look for a compromise or settlement agreement.

It must be known, that a person sue another in a Court of Law, must proof that the allegations are true and fair on a balance of probabilities.

Should such a proof cannot be shown, a case is lost and dismissed with costs and the Defendant is released from any liability or compensation payment.

In order to avoid unnecessary risk and hassle, it is highly recommended to utilise professional support to rebut unfair allegations, not to lose out on reasons of lack of knowledge, how to act against such allegations.

	RAMLA is a specialised expert in all MVA matters, claims, disputes (3rd party / comprehensive Insurance cover) and defensive actions against unreasonable or inflated claims, professional - affordable.    Contact RAMLA for your support to have a damage claim paid or defenced.      Contact

Motor Vehicle Accident We offer the solution in Car Accident matters, analysing, supporting, demanding, corresponding, negotiating, settlement agreements and further taking matters to a court of law in South Africa, if no amicable solution could be found, in pre-litigation, to best favourable conditions in a professional and decisive routine. Facing challenges with motor car accident issues in South Africa? RAMLA will be the solution, demanding compensation, resolving disputes, defending against inflated or unreasonable claims, in all sectors of vehicle accident damage compensation problems.

A legitimate car accident compensation claim, denied, repudiated or a rejected - unfairly dismissed should not be accepted.

Declined or apportioned cases of motor car accident damage compensation can have very detrimental effects in regard to an unsatisfying settlement offer.

It should however be brought to a claimants attention, that it will not be wise, accepting any such decline or apportioning, without looking onto the details.

A number of such declined or disputed claims, does have the merits to be paid in full, despite an insurance admin or a party or a representative of a party may argue differently.

	RAMLA will be your   one-stop car accident claim service   in South Africa             Make sure that all details in the police accident report   will be true and complete, but don't expect too much and do not believe the police accident report will be the foundation of your proof

It will not be wise, just leaving the scene of the accident, once the police is called, but late. Often seen is that the parties in fulfiling the duty reporting, are separately going to a police station and file a report, without the other motorists or parties being with them.

Such report is not of good evidence, as it's a one sided statement, without any verification. If the motorists involved in the auto collision, decide not to wait for the police taking down the report and the circumstances and reveal personal data, all the parties should at least go together to the next police station, directly after the impact, and report and sign the report.

Denied, repudiated or rejected car accident compensation claim, or simply ignored, not entertained

A motor accident compensation claim can be accepted or be denied, not entertained or just be ignored. A claim which will be denied should, but must not always come with reasons for the denial.

Unfortunately denying a compensation action by just stating either not to entertain a claim, or the accused simply saying not being the cause of the traffic accident and in so far not liable, is easy to do and misuse and a bare denial will challenge the claimant coming up with decisive actions.

As South African law, put the burden of proof onto the victim of a traffic accident, seeking compensation. That clearly imply the victim must sue another, proof allegations and damages, in order to get a claim entertained and accepted, or being forced to look for support, in a civil legal action in a court of law, against the alleged wrongdoer.

A claim put forward to the deemed liable party caused the traffic collision, throughout negligent or recklessness driving, or just not having been vigilant enough while driving, can even be disputed, if not denied in full.

A claim dispute will most commonly focus on wrongdoing of the claimant, alleging the demanding driver of being contributable to the cause of the accident, throughout various forms of allegations.

The apportioning of damages act will be a base for arguments to dispute even a valid claim, unfortunately sometimes ridiculously and unashamed bending the true course of the matter into some contributable liability, commonly accused by citing case law.

Some South African motor insurer goes as far as saying:

We quote from a case with a well-known South African car insurer that follows its own way,

" The only time our client is 100% legally liable for an incident is with a rear ender and when a client collide with a parked vehicle."

If such would be reality, it will simply mean, 90% or more of all motor accidents in South Africa, which ends up with damages, will be seen that both parties will have contributed, either way and a fair pay will not happen in all those cases, if it could be sustained.

True however is, that the South African rules of the road imposes some duties on all motorists, in order to drive carefully and avoid impacts as good as possible and certainly being aware of potential danger using the roads at all time, especially at danger areas or other road/street locations, a potential danger must or should be anticipated.

But there will be a high number of motorists that abide to all those obligations and notwithstanding being innocently involved in car accidents, looking for a fair compensation and not for a fight on ridicules' technicalities.

Not attending a valid claim, for auto damage compensation, is a bad behaviour.

Ignorance instead of fairness and not attending a submitted claim, the claiming party should not allow.

Unfortunately a party reluctant to notice and/or react to demands will be a challenge for all claimants, as attempts of hiding is one solution, for some less humorous contemporaries, to get away from responsibilities for fair damage compensation.

It will need some attention discovering the residence and valuables of a reluctant party, deemed liable for the causation of a car accident, to sue them for damages.

But even some admins of South African motor insurance companies, sometimes take a stance to tell a claimant, they simply refuse to entertain this particular claim, as they feel it's unsubstantiated, despite it may well be and only because the insured car driver may have fabricated and presented a false story.

In case a motor insurer act the way of ignoring a claim, there is at least the way to take matters further, without additional investigations as it may be needed in a direct matter with the other party, sue the insured motorist for damages in a court of law and so forcing the party to engage in a matter, and if positively resolved, to pay.

Read more below: Rebut an unfair claim denial and present evidence



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	RAMLA will be your   one-stop car accident claim service   in South Africa             Make sure that all details in the police accident report   will be true and complete, but don't expect too much and do not believe the police motor car accident report will be the foundation of your proof

Rebut an unfair claim denial and present facts and evidence

Claim denial, repudiation or rejection may come in different varieties, from a completely rejected claim, over party denied liability, or by applying the possible effects derived from the apportionment of damages act, blaming another party being part to the causation of the particular incident.

Any kind of shifted liability, from the negligent driver to the victim, will have negative impacts on compensation and downscale any damage pay-out calculation.

In as many car accident compensation cases, we have analysed in the past years, not just a small number of declines must be named, not been qualified or justified to decline a claim action.

It should be brought to attention of the reader that claim administrators, claim handlers, brokers or legal advisers or however named, in charge of a first desicion of the merrits of a claim, most commonly don't have any legal qualification as just training and may be experience.

In light of that, many of those biased decisions to decline or reject a claim on reasons of contributable causation, should be challenged and if uphold, taken to a court of law for ruling, where legal profession prevails, being able to verify unbiased any given matter.

With a bit a luck the admin or person declining a claim give at least some reason for arriving at a decline, that can be looked on and probably be adjusted by professional prepared and presented evidence. Especially some motor insurance admins however can take a tuff stance, giving a claimant a hard time.

A prosperous way supporting and help solve a legitimate claim, can be achieved, if the insured, liable party causing the traffic accident take a fair stance and support a claimant's case, if declined i.e. in matters of apportionment.

It will be the insured person that needs to stand a civil law suit in a court of law and not the motor insurance admin. If the person caused the accident out of whatever reason, but certainly most commonly not deliberately, be honest and fair and not eager to be involved in a court action, this person will engage in the matter and press onto the insurance company to move on and come to a mutual agreed settlement with the claiming party, provided the arguments are indeed on the side of the claimant and not fabricated.

By presenting facts and evidence, in form of pictures, sketches, witness testimony or other items suitable to demonstrate what indeed had happen, accomplice by a professional and competent report and demand, addressing what will be at stake, either in terms of the impact of the car accident, or damage calculation, it will be the right thing to do and should help to get things solved.

Contact RAMLA (Road Accident Management & Legal Action), tell us your Motor Vehicle Accident story, the issues of concern, the problems you detect or face and get a free check and advice how to proceed.

We will check and analyse your individual case and revert to you - most of the time in a short circle of time.

For best results contact us by email initially, give us an idea of the incident, attach one or two pictures of the damages or relevant situation, the extend or value of the damages suffered - if already assessed.

In case of an Insurance claim decline, supply us with a copy of the repudiation letter, of give us the reason for the rejection and name the Insurance Company.

Should you like talking to us (phone contact displayed below), best do that after the initial email briefing, but keep in mind even we need some time to check about your matter first.

Your are very welcome to utilise such valuable absolutely free initial advice*

		RAMLA can be the solution in MVA matters Do you know that RAMLA is a specialised expert in handling and enforcing or defending all kind of MVA (motor vehicle accident) matters, pursuing motor car accident compensation claims, Insurance dispute resolutions, for its clients - effective - professional - decisive and resolute, to best and affordable fees.

As you probably have recognised on our comprehensive web information platform, we do know what we are taking about. We do invite anyone in South Africa, facing an MVA (motor vehicle accident) problem, to contact us for a first - free - analyse of your particular matter and get initial advice how to proceed. As a specialist in traffic accident recovery actions, we act for clients/members in the relevant manner, but based on a paid mandate or membership, if a need of practical support arises. We do offer a free first advice, to determinate your case and give you a direction how and what may be the way forward, in order to build confidence with a potential client. As professional specialists, in charge of acting in motor accident damage claims in South Africa, we offer a well performing, decisive and demanding claim pursuit, at affordable fees.   RAMLA will be your one-stop car accident claim service in South Africa                     When you need claim support for car accident damage compensation, in South Africa you are on the right web page. It's so easy contacting us by email. The effective way will be sending an email containing the nature, damage and problems detected. Once sent through to us, we will study the matter and after analysing the facts, we get back to you by email (most commonly within about 3 hours), with the result and advice, - free of charge. If you like explaining your problem to our claim manager on duty, you are welcome to contact us by phone for an initial briefing on cell 076 770 3179 (standard rates apply). For best results: dont't just call, once you took notice of the opportunity! First think what you like to get accross, best file it as email and call once you got our feedback. For reasons to convince you not just calling immediately, please follow: how to contact RAMLA successfully. It will be much more effective; if we do get a briefing of the matter via email, before a telephone call, so we will be prepared answering your questions. * please note that a practical claim pursuit will not be free of charge and comes with a paid mandate, but at reasonable and affordable fees, however take the chance to get initial free advice.		Car accident compensation claims for damages, may cause some headache, in South Africa. RAMLA can be the solution to sort out MVA problems. Not everything in a compensation action goes smooth and the way wanted, as we are confronted with numerous possible challenges. RAMLA a specialised legal expert in material car accident damage claims, filing, demanding, enforcing compensation actions, supporting disputes in dispute resolution actions, with Motor Insurance Companies, or its Agents, work in Ombudsman's (OSTI) review cases, or defend a motorist against unreasonable or inflated compensation claims. Contact RAMLA to analyse your case, and get a free opinion where you stand and what to do next. You can contact RAMLA 7/24 and receive a response soon. It's so easy, just e mail your story and attach what you got to make the RAMLA claim manager understand your problem. Just draft a brief report of what had happen and send it (use this mail link) to RAMLA for free analyses and you will receive a reply soon. Contact us now and let us know how we can help you? email us your story and details to ramla@ramla.co.za for a free first analyse and advice.

A qualified claim denial must be analysed regarding facts

A claim for motor car accident damage compensation entertained but rejected, based on facts that are valid points, needs to be looked on in detail.

Certainly not every claim made from a motorist believed being the sole victim, must always be according to the law and rules of the road. Some people just trust its feeling of what will be justified in the matter before them, forgetting that there are reasonable obligations posed on all motorists, taking part in public traffic.

The main factors of this obligations are to be aware of dangerous situations that may come across the driving path to all times, monitor the way in front and around a car driver to be aware of danger that may arrive out of other drivers negligence, especially in areas of increased danger, driving at an appropriate speed and always keeping proper safety distances between motor cars, are the essentials that needs to be abided to.

Furthermore the rules of South African roads oblige a motorist, to do all not to harm others body, live or property, avoid traffic collision wherever a driver will be reasonable able doing so, in applying breaks, swearing out of the way etc.

The emphasis here however is on - reasonable able -. No car driver must fulfil magic or acrobatic driving action and must or should only do what is within his reasonable capability to avoid an impact that is triggered by another car driver, negligently participating in the on-going traffic and causing danger to other by bad and irresponsible driving.

As to the many possibilities accusing another, having failed to abide to those reasonable duties, a high number of claims are denied or apportioned (holding the other party to account to a per cent age) on those reasons. But those reasons must be reasonably upheld and proven, according to an individual and particular car accident.

This is where the majority of allegations of apportioning the causation of a car accident fail to stand a review.

Many such case declines or partly declines emanate from motor insurance admins decisions. They do have an arsenal of so called case law examples, that will be cited to impress a claiming party, that the law already has been applied and found that the individual behaviour of a claimant, not abiding to all possible obligations, be good enough to held them contributable liable, for the cause of the car accident, meaning they need take care of a portion of damage compensation.

It will be taken lightly, that the definitions and former court decision can only be cited for the principle of a particular case and not for the determination. The cases analysed and attended however reveal just the opposite. The case declined of such non-conforming reasons (not abiding to the extended duties of the road) commonly lack evidence.

A claimant will be presented with a copy of a previous, sometimes years or decade old decisions, as the motivation for a decline. A decline or apportionment of damages can have highly detrimental effects to any compensation, after calculating cases to rates of liability taken on the sole discretion of a claim admin or party or legal representative, as damages to the other (commonly the insured party) will be taken into calculation.

We all do know, that new or relatively new motor vehicles requires an insurance policy, as risks of loss are high or finance do take it as prerequisite to be granted. This may influence a damage calculation with an uninsured, whose motor car may not be as new anymore and in turn car values may be lower. Higher damage repair calculations of the insured motor car will have heavy weight, even if the per cent age will be 80% in favour or the claimant, leading to no or just a very tiny amount of compensation offered.

Confronted with such scenario, it will be worthwhile to look onto matters in detail and get a professional involved, even if it will trigger some costs.

There are many such cited cases that have been ruled over upon or differently by other judges, just coming to a very different ergo.



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Submit your accident documentation for initial review by RAMLA claim service, and receive comments and recommendations, absolutely free.

	RAMLA - Road Accident Management and Legal Action - is one of South Africa's most experienced and decisive advocates to sort out legal disputes with parties, Insurance companies or act in defence for clients, confronted with unreasonable or inflated claims. Car accident issues that matters most: We are legal specialist in motor car accident damage recovery matters and offer our services to those suffering damages or in need to defend unreasonable or inflated claims. Taking on disputes with motor insurance companies, engage and solve unfair declines or incorrect apportionment of damages, oppose a wrong assessed Quantum, or take a matter on review with the Ombudsman (OSTI), to get a matter of comprehensive insurance dispute reviewed. Sometimes, if a matter cannot be resolved in a full attempt, and the case need to be heard in a court of law, should all fail to find a solution in pre-litigation, the escalation to a court of law is inevitable, we will suppot the action. RAMLA can get you through the trouble, get reluctant parties moving serving Summons, for just some affordable fees, commonly just equal or lower then towing/storage cost may be. We are one of the most experienced, decisive advocates, when it comes to car accident problems - issues of compensation or defence against unreasonable or inflated claims, bad repair practice and much more. We work only on motor car accident matters. Check us out, so you do know if we can uphold we say, free of charge. Welcome to RAMLA Road Accicent Management & Legal Action - South Africa

RAMLA - is an experienced legal expert in most MVA - Motor Vehicle Accident - issues.

We act professionally and decisive for the - Demand of damage Compensation - Dispute Resolution - Defence against inflated or unreasonable claims, as well as for damage recovery caused by bad workmanship after car repairs.

With more than ten years of professional experience, well educated stuff, knowing the subject of car accident issues and solutions, we have advised many, many inquirers in the first steps to take for a solution,

- free of charge - ,

and over the years, served a high number of clients to solve differences with parties, addressed compensation actions, acted against unfair Motor Insurance declines or short falling settlement offers, pursuit reviews with the Industries Ombudsman and filed law suits and defences.

RAMLA do know very well, that all cases are individual and need particular attention to the details, as only a well structured and factual claim can have chances to success. With us, you can feel save.

If you valued visitor of the RAMLA web information platform, do have any such problems listed above, you may well be good advised to contact us and brief us - best by email - with what had happened and may be your problem.

Our initial reply and advice will be free of any charges or obligations,

but an active pursuit of a claim or defence will come with some smaller fees.