Call us now:
In this guide
By Onah Attorneys Inc • Updated July 2026 • Legal information, not a substitute for advice on your specific matter.
The honest answer: a properly run RAF claim typically takes 2 to 4 years to payment, and poorly run ones take longer or die of prescription. The Fund’s backlog is real — but most claim delay is preventable and sits in the claimant’s own file: late lodgement, missing medico-legal reports, and undocumented losses. Here is the realistic timeline and how each stage can be compressed.
Prescription: your hard deadlines
Identified-vehicle claims must be lodged within 3 years of the accident; hit-and-run (unidentified vehicle) claims within 2 years. Once lodged, you have 5 years from the accident date to issue summons. Minors’ clocks run from age 18. These deadlines kill more claims than the Fund’s lawyers do — lodge early.
Lodgement and the 120-day period
After the RAF 1 claim form is lodged with supporting documents, the Fund has 120 days in which you cannot issue summons — its statutory window to investigate and settle. Complete lodgements (accident report, medical records, employment proof) move; skeleton lodgements sit. Most direct claimants lodge skeletons.
Building quantum: the real timeline driver
Serious claims need medico-legal experts — orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, occupational therapists, industrial psychologists and actuaries. Booking, examining and reporting takes 6–12 months done efficiently. This phase runs parallel to the Fund’s processing and is where attorney-run claims outperform: the claim’s value is literally built here.
Settlement vs trial
With a fully quantified claim, settlement negotiations become real. Many matters settle at or near trial-readiness — the Fund settles what it believes will be proven in court. Matters that don’t settle receive trial dates; Gauteng trial rolls currently run 1–2 years out, but a serious percentage settle on the court steps.
Payment after settlement or judgment
Even after settlement or judgment, the RAF’s payment backlog adds months — typically 180 days under current practice. Interest runs on unpaid capital, and attorneys track and escalate unpaid awards. Undertakings for future medical care are issued separately and used as treatment happens.
Frequently asked questions
Can I speed up my RAF claim?
Yes: lodge complete, book medico-legals early, document income losses meticulously, and litigate readiness — the Fund settles prepared claims first.
Do I need an attorney for an RAF claim?
Direct claims are possible but settle for materially less on average — future loss and care costs need expert quantification the Fund won’t do for you.
What if my claim has already prescribed?
Limited rescue exists (minority, mental incapacity, certain lodgement defects). Get an urgent legal opinion — some ‘prescribed’ claims are salvageable.
How are RAF attorneys paid?
No-win-no-fee contingency agreements capped at 25% of the award under the Contingency Fees Act, plus recoverable costs — regulated and in writing.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about how long does an RAF claim take from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
Call 011 042 8039 Request a Callback