Can I Track My Personal Injury Settlement Check?

If you have reached a settlement agreement on your personal injury case, you may be anxious while waiting for your settlement check. This can be a difficult time because you likely have medical bills and other expenses to pay for. You may also be wondering how much money will be left over after your lawyer has taken out the necessary legal fees. Although tracking a personal injury settlement check is not the same thing as tracking a package in the mail, it is helpful to know the overall settlement process.

When an Agreement Has Been Reached

If an agreement has been reached concerning your case, that means the difficult legal matters have mostly been settled. Either you and your personal injury lawyer have come to a specific agreement with the other party, or the court has decided how much the defendant should pay you in compensation for damages. The court should specify how long of a time the defendant has to pay the settlement. You can ask your lawyer what the decision was and how long it may take for the check to arrive.

It is not unusual for the other party to wait the maximum amount of time to write the check. There may also be a problem collecting the money if the defendant does not have enough funds to cover the amount. In cases like these, your lawyer may recommend accepting a payment plan that allows the other party to pay over a period of time. Although you may wish to receive your entire settlement in one lump sum, this is not always possible. Try remaining calm, knowing that you will eventually get the money.

If the other party is in a different state, there could be delays from the insurance company, as it is not as straightforward for the insurance company to issue compensation to someone out-of-state. Again, be patient, and stay in touch with your lawyer.

Once the Check Has Been Issued

After the check is written by the defendant or the insurance company, it is typically sent to your attorney, who will process the money. Processing the money includes taking out legal fees and paying off outstanding bills that you may have. Processing the settlement check could take a few weeks. You may ask your lawyer what amount of money will be needed to pay off the bills and cover legal services, so you get a better idea of how much you will be left with.

The check also needs time to clear the bank, which could take around one week for large amounts of money.

After your lawyer has processed the check, it is ready for you to pick up, receive in the mail, or get via direct deposit. If it is to be mailed, you can ask to have it mailed using a tracking service, so you can be aware of the status during shipment. That way, if there is a delay, you can talk to your attorney to let them know you did not receive it at the expected time.

If there is any paperwork or online communication regarding your settlement check, make sure you save it. Careful records could help if there are any problems.

Talk With Your Personal Injury Lawyer About Tracking Your Settlement Check

Consider your personal injury attorney as the middleman between you and the party issuing the settlement check. Contact your lawyer with any questions you have about the timing of the check or how it is being processed once it reaches your attorney’s office. Keeping close tabs on the process will help qualm your nerves as you wait.

Be proactive as you track your personal injury settlement check, and do not hesitate to contact us with questions. We are here to help!