If you have had a personal injury case decided in your favor, you may receive what is termed a structural settlement. This is a settlement for personal injury damages that isn’t a lump sum payment but rather a series of payments over time.
Instead of the lump sum payout that has been the common way to pay damages for many years, a structured settlement takes this award and pays it out in installments over time.
A structured settlement basically divides up your award. Then, the liable party pays out in scheduled periods, a set amount each payment, until the entire amount is paid. It is almost like when you make a car payment on your car, until you have paid off the entire balance, except in a structured settlement there is no interest paid.
The period of time for a structural settlement can vary. Generally payments are monthly, and are paid out over years. Depending on the monthly sum and the total award amount, the payout term will be shorter or longer. If you have a settlement that is very large, it may pay out over decades even.
Believe it or not, a structured settlement has good parts for both the liable party and the injured party. The injured party benefits from getting money paid over time. Otherwise they would end up getting it all in one lump sum.
When you get a structured settlement instead of a lump sum payout, it can help to ensure that you have money coming in over the full length of time you are still having effects from your injury. You may not know how long this will be, and if you get – and spend – a lump sum settlement, then there is nothing else coming in to cover your medical needs or replace lost income.
It isn’t just the injured party that benefits when damages are awarded via structured settlement. The liable party also benefits. The liable party ends up avoiding a huge tax burden. The tax amount is reduced since the settlement is paid over time.
When you have a personal injury case, a structured settlement may be your best option. It helps to know how these work. Such a settlement can ensure you have income over a long period of time, which can really be a major plus.
In addition to legal settlements, this author also frequently shares writing on buying individual health insurance and dental iv sedation.