Final Steps to Getting Your Settlement

At this stage you're through the toughest parts of your claim. Now all you have to do is get your check. Hopefully everything will be smooth from here on out, but you still might run into a few problems.

Before you can get your injury settlement compensation, you'll have to fill out a few forms. These are fairly standard, but should be looked at very carefully. You don't want to sign anything that can hurt you in the future.

Going forward, the main concerns about your settlement have to do with the money itself. You don't always get to keep all of it. If you weren't the one who paid all of the bills, then you may be required to pay someone back. After that, especially on larger settlements, you'll want to look into any taxes that may apply to your compensation money.

What We'll Cover:

Accepting the Settlement Offer
After reaching a verbal agreement with the adjuster, you're going to have to do some paperwork to get the settlement check. This section looks at the confirmation letter and what to expect from the release form.

Delays Receiving Your Check
The settlement check should be in your hands within 10 business days, or soon after. If it doesn't arrive there are steps you can take to ensure your settlement agreement isn't falling through the cracks.

Be Prepared for Liens on Your Settlement
If your medical bills were covered by Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans Administration, workers compensation, or your own auto or health insurance, you may have to pay back the costs of treatment. Learn how to deal with a medical lien on your settlement proceeds.

Negotiating Repayment of Medical Liens
There are details you should know about repaying healthcare provider liens on your settlement proceeds. If you handle the situation right, you may only have to repay a portion of what you owe.

Paying Taxes on Your Settlement Proceeds
You might have to pay some taxes on your injury settlement. Fortunately only specific categories of your compensation are taxable. This section looks at the specifics of settlement taxes.