No amount of money can bring back a mother, father, son or daughter killed in a road accident, with the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji reminding motorists that road safety must always come first.
ACCF Executive Chairman Maritino Nemani says compensation is available for eligible injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents.
Nemani says many people are still unaware of their rights and the assistance available to them following a road accident.
He says nobody leaves home expecting to end up in hospital or lose a loved one in a road accident, but when tragedy strikes, families need to know that they are not alone and that help is available.
He says ACCF provides compensation to eligible victims and families affected by motor vehicle accidents involving cars, buses, taxis, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles covered under the law.
Nemani says an accident does not just affect the person who is injured, but the entire family, as a breadwinner may no longer be able to work, children may lose a parent, and families can suddenly find themselves struggling financially.
He explains that ACCF operates a no-fault compensation scheme, meaning eligible victims do not necessarily have to prove who caused the accident to receive compensation.
However, he stresses that compensation should never be mistaken for a solution to Fiji's road safety problems.
Nemani says families can be compensated for their loss under the law, but the person they have lost can never be replaced.
He says every road user has a responsibility to prevent such tragedies.
He warns that every time someone speeds, drives recklessly or takes an unnecessary risk, they are gambling with someone's life, and that person could be their own child, wife, husband or parent.
Nemani is urging drivers to slow down, obey traffic rules and remember that their actions can have lifelong consequences for innocent families.
He says getting home five minutes earlier is never worth someone losing the rest of their life.
He encourages anyone affected by a motor vehicle accident to contact ACCF to learn more about their rights and whether they qualify for compensation.
Nemani says the message is simple: know your rights, protect your family and take responsibility on the roads, as the best accident is the one that never happens.
