A recent survey shows that Americans can't afford to be out of work for even a short period. This particularly hits home for personal injury victims who suddenly find themselves unable to work (and without a paycheck) for long stretches of time or even permanently.
Reaching a financial settlement in a personal injury case is meant to provide the funds needed for the claimant to live comfortably without money worries. Yet bad investment decisions or careless spending can leave the injured party unable to pay creditors. The urge (or necessity) to spend beyond one's means is increasing. Data from Lending
Once a case settles in your client's favor, how can you be sure that the structured settlement payments will be distributed properly? That's the job of the structured settlement broker. Brokers are responsible for payment set-up and coordination. As the attorney for the plaintiff, you have a right to use your own broker for these
When discussing structured settlement annuities with anyone, the question that often comes up is "Are they safe?" That's understandable. The last thing anyone wants to worry about is the long-term reliability and safety of their money.
Parents want the best for their kids and that includes giving their children the opportunity to attend college. When a parent is seriously injured and no longer able to work, hopes of providing a college education for their children can be dashed. Funds from a structured settlement due to an injury, however, can be designated
The Federal Reserve has raised short-term interest rates at a quickening pace since the financial crisis and has signaled that more increases are in the works. Plaintiffs considering a structured settlement may be concerned they will miss future higher investment returns on their settlement funds as the result of increasingly higher interest rates if they lock in a structured annuity today.
Structured settlements are often created for injured individuals to be sure they will not outlive their money. But what happens when claimants are injured in their 60s, 70s or beyond? Do structured settlements still make sense? In many cases, yes.
When a case resolves, attorneys have a decision to make:what to do with the fees owed to them.Successfully negotiating a settlement or winning a case on behalf of an injured client is one of the most satisfying aspects of the legal profession. While savoring the victory, attorneys have a decision to make: what to do
With structured settlements, timing is everything. Wait until a settlement agreement is signed, and the opportunity is off the table. Here’s a simple structured settlement timeline. Settlement Negotiations: During settlement negotiations, plaintiff and defendant attorneys estimate such costs as the injured party’s ongoing medical care and living and family needs (i.e., possible future medical treatment,
Last year, MetLife introduced its new Periodic Payment Agreement (PPA). The PPA is a non-qualified product that enables the transfer of future periodic payments from physical injury cases that currently do not qualify under IRC Section 130, such as pre-1997 workers compensation settlements and the settlements of disability coverage disputes. The transfer is made to
