Accident types
Pedestrian claims explained
In plain language
Pedestrians make up a large share of road-accident injuries in South Africa. This guide covers the general information usually relevant to these matters.
- Pedestrians are road users and may need records showing how the collision occurred.
- Early medical care, a SAPS reference and witness details can be important.
- This guide cannot decide responsibility for a collision or eligibility for compensation.
On this page
After a pedestrian collision
Health and safety come first. Seek medical help where needed and make sure the incident is reported. If you can do so safely, write down the road, time, direction of travel and vehicle details; ask witnesses for their contact details.
If you were taken to a healthcare facility, keep the facility name and dates of treatment. The RAF leaflet identifies hospital and medical records as common supporting records.
Keep the facts, not assumptions
A collision may involve questions about visibility, road position, speed, traffic controls and the actions of more than one person. The RAF may investigate fault and the degree of negligence, so avoid assuming that one fact decides the whole matter.
- The exact location and nearby landmarks
- Vehicle registration or description, if known
- The SAPS case or accident report reference
- Witness, ambulance and healthcare-facility details
If the vehicle left the scene
Use the hit-and-run guide if the driver or vehicle could not be identified. Unidentified-driver matters have their own published time-period guidance, so preserve the date and obtain advice promptly rather than waiting for every detail to be available.
General next steps
- 1Keep medical and police reference information together.
- 2Write a dated account of what you remember and identify any witnesses.
- 3Read the hit-and-run guide if the vehicle or driver was not identified.
Common questions
Official sources
RAF Guide summarises publicly available official material. Always confirm current requirements with the institution concerned.
- RAF claim guide leafletRoad Accident Fund · Official RAF leaflet covering the claims process, direct claims, common documents and accident-scene steps.
- Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996South African Government · The primary legislation establishing the Road Accident Fund and its framework.
- RAF claim forms and supporting-document checklistRoad Accident Fund · Official RAF forms and document categories used in claims administration.
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