Calvin was 25 years old and life was great when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He had been a top student at school, Head Boy and played first team hockey. At the time when the accident occurred, he was in his second last year of a B.Eng Degree in Electronic Engineering. He was also playing guitar in a band and performed shows all over the country as part of a band for extra income.
One fateful night, the band was returning to Pretoria after performing in Durban, when the driver of their minibus lost control of the vehicle around a corner and it overturned.
During the accident, Calvin and one of the other passengers were flung from the vehicle. He recalled hearing the impact and then being intermittently conscious until the following day. He had suffered a head injury and various bones had fractured, including those in his right arm and hand. He was taken to hospital by ambulance and had to undergo surgery for his injuries.
After the accident, he experiences cramps in his right hand and as a result of this, he battles to write and type. His right arm is painful, where the steel plate has been inserted, this gets worse on cold winter nights and when he sleeps. The accident has left a hard mass on his left thigh, which sometimes trembles. He also battles to concentrate for long periods of time He gets severe pain in his knees when he walks and sits in confined spaces. One of his friends passed away in the accident and driving in a car is stressful due to the emotional trauma of the accident.
Music had been a big passion in Calvin’s life, and he could no longer perform due to the loss of function in his arm. Due to the severity of his injuries, the many operations, the impact on his concentration and the length of time needed for him to recover, he was unable to finish his studies. He was pessimistic about the future and experienced a sense of loss, over how the accident has influenced his career, both professionally and as a musician.
Because Calvin was a passenger who suffered injuries due to the driver’s negligence, he was entitled to claim from the RAF for his medical expenses and loss of income. Calvin contacted Paul du Plessis Attorneys for advice and to run the case. Calvin received a record-breaking award for his injury and mild concussion and was placed in a position to change his career path (becoming an entrepreneur with capital available to him), and having resources available to get the necessary medical help he needs when he needs it. He was also able to reimburse his mother for the many medical expenses and financial support she had given him during the years that his injuries did not allow him to work or study at all.
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