Motorcycle accident, no drivers license

[Iceman360]

Wife was in a car accident a few years ago. Didn't have a driver's license at the time and the Raf did pay out.

 

[RonSwanson]

agree with this. If a pedestrian is hit on a highway and they survive they can still claim even though they were illegally walking on a highway. same same.

I don't like RAF, but I agree with this. Pay one, pay all, regardless. Even drunk pedestrians. Especially the ones with no SABC TV license.

 

[Radioboy]

You have no business posting absurd ramblings, but you do it any way. Go figure. !

If not feeling a rats ass for unlicensed drivers on our roads getting themselves crippled makes me absurd - then that is a badge I'll wear with pride.

 

[wizardofid]

If not feeling a rats ass for unlicensed drivers on our roads getting themselves crippled makes me absurd - then that is a badge I'll wear with pride.

Perhaps you should work on your analogies.......and its give a rat's ass, not feeling one. Should you wish to be PC, use don't give a rat's patootie, of course you don't need a license to make use of the urban dictionary but in your case I would make an exception.

 

[johnjm]

you can’t renew your learners regardless. Is there an issue with taking the license?

Trying to book a a damn time slot. I can renew, like as in take the test again. But again, what a mission it is lately post COVID.

 

[Big Rat]

Nice to have, but unfortunately you can have all the footage in the world, all the licenses in the world, and adhere to all the rules to be 100% not to blame, it doesn't undo

• a broken collar bone
• 2x broken arms
• broken and cracked ribs
• crushed knee
• broken femur
• abdominal hematoma

and it doesn't put food and shelter on the table for his wife and baby boy.

Life is tough. One day it's a newspaper report, next day an unlicensed driver, and the very next day it could be you.

We get that, You say the blame is 50 /50. Well, can you share the Footage? might be we see it different, either for your friend or against him, Simply do not know as we have no idea what happened?
You state accident happened 50/50 blame, no explanation of the accident. Someone jump a red light? Changed lanes without indicating, too fast down the middle, drove straight in turn lane, Turned in drive straight line? At night? daylight?

You see, you ask a question, which is all good, but you give very little for us to guess with.

Being unlicensed will count against him.
If he sped between the cars it will count against him.
From past experience big damages on bikes means speed was a factor.
SO either share the vid, or give a bit more detail about the accident. Let the curious amongst us see what happened, let the people that want to help and know about the payouts see and make a judgement cal lthemselve.

 

[Sheks]

Very little recourse here - my brother passed away in a bike accident last year he had an expired license. Insurance (vehicle and life) did not and will not pay out.

 

[Cius]

If you ride a bike, please sign up to be an organ donor. It could save so many lives in this country if most bikers where donors.

 

[Pandarye]

Thank you for the responses guys.
For the record, the taxi driver and vehicle was licensed, and PDP, but how he got it is anyone's guess because he clearly cannot see very well, or couldn't be bothered to look, or was distracted. Although they do test eyes as part of the process, it doesn't mean that he used them at all. Agreed that the taxi driver could proceed with a civil claim for damages, he needs to be prepared for it as well.
Bike was not insured, there is no way that he could afford it.
I will be advising him that he needs to proceed with a RAF claim regardless, but not to bank on getting it paid, or to invest anything in the process other than the application itself. I am not a fan of using lawyers for this, to me they add doubtful value and take a huge percentage of the payout (if any). Those that work on a contingency basis take even more.
I hope that those that read this post and who drive without a license are encouraged to get legally on the road, and to maintain it, my friend is definately in a very bad position at the moment, both health-wise and financially, and the future does not look too bright for him.

I really urge you to reconsider the value proposition of using a DECENT firm of attorneys to manage your friends RAF claim.

Does your friend have the time and resources to navigate the process? Does he know how to fill in the claim forms correctly? Does he have R2000 to pay the doctor to fill out his/her portion of the claim form. If (more likely when) the RAF stops responding to any of his communication, sends him a ridiculously low offer of settlement or rejects his claim does he know how to draft and serve summons on the RAF? When he's asked to prove that he has suffered a serious injury does he have the R20 000+ per report to pay doctors to prepare these reports?

These are all things that a decent RAF firm will take care of (and pay for) on his behalf if they believe there is merit to his claim. He should not have to pay a single cent up front and if for some reason the claim is unsuccessful he should not owe them anything either. What then does he have to lose?

 

[airborne]

From past experience big damages on bikes means speed was a factor.

What do you classify as "speed"?

 

[Big Rat]

What do you classify as "speed"?

If you fall at 60kph while in standing traffic you will pick up heavy damage. If you do 60 on your own, you will slide a bit, not heavy damage i would imagine. So it is relative to where you are. Is it legal to split lanes doing 60 while cars are standing still? Yes it is, but is it right, Hell no, that is daft.
Bit of logic need to applied what is speed

 

[Thorium]

Wife was in a car accident a few years ago. Didn't have a driver's license at the time and the Raf did pay out.

Thank you, I am so glad that some folk can read, and have the cognitive ability to respond properly.
As far as I know, the RAF is a no fault insurance.
My friend's application has been accepted, and we are all hoping for the best.

 

[airborne]

Thank you for your response. You haven't answered any of the questions which I posed though.
Are you an ambulance chaser?

He makes very valid points though, unless your friend has a war chest to fight the RAF on his own dime?