Who Pays in Personal Injury Court?

Personal injury cases do not exist to allow people like you to file frivolous lawsuits in order to receive cash awards; rather, compensation awarded through personal injury cases seeks to address both tangible and intangible impacts associated with injuries so as to facilitate full recoveries for all involved parties.

Personal injury cases typically fall under the purview of the defendant’s insurance provider, typically their auto, medical malpractice and homeowners policies to cover settlement payments and payments for expenses associated with an injury claim.

Insurance companies

Liable parties and their insurance companies typically pay court judgments in personal injury cases, since most individuals and businesses carry liability coverage to cover damages caused by negligence or wrongdoing – this type of policy often comes into play during car accidents, medical malpractice claims and workplace injuries cases.

Insurance companies typically attempt to limit how much they pay claimants in personal injury claims in order to avoid costly legal battles that could yield higher jury awards than anticipated.

Underlying all this, insurers want to settle claims quickly in order to keep costs low – this puts claimants under immense pressure to settle quickly for less compensation than they deserve. An experienced personal injury lawyer is key in safeguarding your rights and making sure you receive maximum possible settlement for your case. A great attorney will prevent insurance companies from trying to minimize injuries or argue certain treatments are unnecessary, while providing structured settlements which cover future medical care needs and costs.

Employers

Many personal injury cases result in lump-sum settlements wherein defendants or their insurers pay all compensation at once, but structured settlements can provide payments over time that help cover ongoing expenses such as medical care or lost wages. While these types of agreements can be more complex than traditional court judgements and harder to collect, some law firms provide pre-settlement funding or loans which will eventually be paid back from any financial award given as compensation.

Harris Fowler Solicitors recognize the difficulties involved with seeking compensation from defendants, so we take great care in working hard to make sure that you receive what is owed to you. If a defendant refuses to comply with a judgment, we take legal action on their behalf to enforce it – this may include wage garnishment, asset seizure and/or lien placement on property owned by them. For more information about how we can assist, contact us and set up a free no-committal consultation –

Defendants

If the defendant does not have enough insurance to cover compensation out-of-pocket, if necessary. Unfortunately, due to the complexities involved with personal injury judgment collection this can prove challenging; particularly if they file for bankruptcy or refuse to abide with court rulings. A knowledgeable attorney will identify effective enforcement options so as to ensure the injured party receives all awarded damages.

Defendants may agree to make interim payments to cover immediate expenses such as medical treatment or lost wages; however, these sums tend to fall short of covering the total compensation due to claimants.

Contrary to popular belief, personal injury claims don’t exist as an easy way to file frivolous lawsuits for cash. Instead, these awards aim to address both tangible and intangible impacts of injuries in order to make victims whole again. Yet due to their complexity, these cases require expert legal representation; many attorneys therefore offer contingency fees so their clients can pursue justice without paying upfront fees.

Lawyers

Personal injury lawsuits are expensive legal matters. There are expenses related to filing the case, sheriff’s fees, deposition transcripts and experts. Most lawyers work on contingency basis so they only get paid once settlement or judgment has been reached.

Personal injury cases require much time and energy in preparing for trial, requiring experienced lawyers to take them all the way through. Their goal should be to maximize compensation for their clients.

Personal injury defendants often employ various strategies to avoid paying their damages, including disputing or underpaying claims and concealing assets. A personal injury attorney can help their clients collect their monetary awards by filing post-judgment discovery to identify valuable property that can be sold off to meet judgment payments; they can also assist with enforcement and legal action as needed. Contact us now for a free consultation so we can evaluate all of the paperwork pertaining to your medical records, bills, or any other documentation and determine how best to proceed.