Get answers to the common legal question: how are personal injury settlements paid out? You filed a personal injury claim, settled your case, and now it’s time to receive your settlement money. But do you know how the process works?
Below you’ll learn more about what happens during the payout period and get helpful personal injury settlement statistics that can give you a sense of how the process may go.
After Settling Your Case
More than 90% of personal injury cases are settled before trial. After your case has been settled, the lawyers will notify the court that the case has been settled, an order will be issued, and both your side and the other side will have approximately 30 to 60 days to complete their paperwork.
One important part of this process is the release. The release is a document the defense lawyer prepares that lays out the terms of the settlement and then sends to your lawyer for approval. The release may be straightforward or there may be issues that your lawyer identifies as problematic.
If there are issues, your lawyer and the defense lawyer will have to come to an agreement, which can sometimes delay the settlement process. Once an agreement is reached, you will sign this form in front of your Personal Injury lawyer. Before you sign, make sure to read it carefully and ask your lawyer any questions you have.
Medical and Governmental Liens
Another issue that may affect the settlement process is any government or medical lien against you. If you owe your health care provider, health insurance company, or government agencies money, you must first pay them off. Once you have, you will be able to collect your settlement.
Checks and Payments
Once the paperwork has been taken care of, the defendant’s insurance company will send a check to your lawyer. The lawyer will then deduct fees and expenses. Finally, they will write you a check for the balance. Once your lawyer has received a check from the other party, your check will usually be available in a few days.
To find out more about how recovering your settlement works, contact us or download our personal injury recovery kit for more information.
