The Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims process is fraught with delays.

Some are administrative, others budgetary and many are due to the ponderous process required to verify each case.

You must expect delays after you submit a RAF claim and prepare for them.

How long will the process take?

If you’ve lodged a claim against the RAF and are relying on the funds to help you cover medical and other expenses associated with your injury, you’re in for a shock.

You may have to wait seven years for your case to be finalised.

Once it’s settled, you may wait another six to 12 months before the money shows up in your bank account.

It may be in your best interests to wait

Injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents, such as whiplash, brachial plexus injuries and traumatic brain injuries, often present symptoms weeks or months after an accident.

In some cases, injuries that didn’t initially appear severe develop into life-threatening medical conditions that require prolonged treatment and care.

As a result, claimants are recommended to wait 12 to 24 months to reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) before proceeding with a RAF claim.

Mandatory 120-day RAF investigation

Once you have the medical approval to submit your claim, the RAF has 120 days to conduct an investigation into your accident.

At this point, you may have to have your injuries assessed by a RAF-appointed physician and supply supporting documents, such as witness statements, medical reports and invoices issued in relation to injuries sustained in the accident.

Despite its best intentions, the RAF seldom completes its investigation within 120 days.

Dispute resolution

When the RAF eventually comes to a conclusion, it’s not necessarily plain sailing.

The RAF may repudiate a claim, reject certain findings substantiating it or dispute the amount of money you’re claiming in compensation.

This can mean one of three things:

• you appoint an attorney to pursue the matter in court
• you resolve the issues raised by the RAF by presenting further evidence to back your claim
• you negotiate a settlement.

Whichever route you take, it means another substantial delay in your quest for compensation.

Litigation in court

If the matter goes to court, you may have to wait 12 to 18 months before you secure a date for the hearing.

Then you can expect numerous postponements before the judge rules on the matter.

Budget constraints lead to delayed final settlements

Once a ruling has been made in your favour, the RAF has 180 days to pay you.

However, due to an enormous backlog in cases – and a dire lack of funds – the RAF rarely meets this target. Many claimants wait for a year or even longer.

If you’re not covered by medical aid or your injuries mean you can’t work, how do you cope financially? The easy answer is bridging finance by Lamna.

Get bridging finance to straddle the RAF payment gap

At Lamna, we offer cash advances on RAF claim payouts to help you bridge the payment gap.

Bridging finance is a quick and easy way of raising the funds you need while you wait for the RAF to pay your claim.

All that’s required to secure a loan is proof of settlement. If you choose to proceed with a loan offer, the funds are immediately transferred into your bank account via EFT.

We offer competitive interest rates, and as an accredited finance provider, Lamna is fully compliant with the National Credit Act.

Don’t let delays after you submit a RAF claim devastate your finances!

For more information about RAF bridging finance, contact us on 086 111 2866 or simply complete and submit our online application form.