How to Track a Personal Injury Settlement Check in Las Vegas

When you have been injured because of another person’s negligence, you have the right to pursue financial compensation. While some injury claims end in a trial, most of these cases are settled long before they reach the courtroom.
 
Once a Nevada injury claim has settled, victims often wonder how to track a Las Vegas personal injury settlement check. Some people find that it takes months of additional waiting to obtain their settlement.
 
Hiring an accomplished attorney with Morgan & Morgan will help you better understand the settlement process. If you are wondering how to track a Las Vegas personal injury settlement check, read on.
 
When you need the best personal injury attorney in the Las Vegas area, contact Morgan & Morgan. Our legal team will build a powerful case and work to secure maximum compensation for you.
 
Call our offices at 877-667-4265 or complete our user-friendly contact form online. At Morgan & Morgan, we provide all new clients with a free case consultation.

Common Types of Financial Recovery in Personal Injury Cases

If you are pursuing compensation for a personal injury, you may be unsure of the value of your claim. There is no single or standard value for injury cases.
 
The amount of your settlement will be dependent on many factors in your case. Every injury or accident case is unique. But there are several common types of damages in personal injury settlements.

Medical Expenses

One of the most important elements of an injury settlement is the victim’s medical expenses. Following an accident, injury victims often face financial challenges.
 
Medical bills can add up quickly, especially if the injury is long-lasting or permanent. Common examples of medical expenses include:

•       Emergency room visits
•       Ambulance rides
•       Hospitalization
•       Doctor’s appointments
•       Surgeries
•       Prescription medications
•       And more

An appropriate settlement should account for the victim’s current and future medical costs. Hiring an experienced attorney will help you to secure maximum compensation.

Lost Income

While they recover from their accident, many victims are unable to continue working normal hours. This can lead to lost income and missed wages.
 
In cases involving long-term injuries, the claimant may be unable to ever return to their previous job. If this happens, an appropriate settlement should account for the victim’s lost earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

Not every type of damage from an injury comes with a price tag. “Non-economic” damages are those negative consequences that do not entail a direct monetary loss.
 
“Pain and suffering” is the most common category of non-economic damages in personal injury cases. These payments are intended to compensate the victim for intangible losses from their injuries.
 
Pain and suffering damages can include:

•       Physical discomfort and pain from the accident
•       Physical discomfort from medical care and treatments
•       Mental distress, anxiety, and other negative psychological effects

While pain and suffering do not entail a financial loss, they are very real damages that victims face. Oftentimes, non-economic damages are the most difficult ones for victims to manage.
 
Once your attorney has secured a large amount in your case, they can assist you with knowing how to track a Las Vegas personal injury settlement check.
 
An accomplished injury lawyer will ensure that your settlement takes all of the relevant types of damages into account. That is why it is crucial to hire a skilled personal injury attorney to represent you.

How to Track a Las Vegas Personal Injury Settlement Check:  Steps to Take

Personal injury cases can take a considerable amount of time. The phases of an injury case include the investigation process, negotiations, filing insurance claims, and medical assessments.
 
It is common for injury cases to take many months to resolve. Many claimants believe that once their case is settled, they will receive their settlement check immediately.
 
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Victims must complete additional steps after they have reached a settlement. Review the following guide to understand how to track a Las Vegas personal injury settlement check.
 
If your case was settled without the need for a trial, the court will issue a document known as an “order of settlement.” This requires both sides of the dispute to fill out relevant settlement paperwork within 30–60 days.

The Release

One of the most crucial parts of the settlement documents is called the “release.” This is a document that the defense attorney prepares.
 
The release outlines the terms of the settlement. Legally, the release can be a short and succinct document. But some insurance providers and attorneys prefer a longer document that relies on dense legal language.
 
Oftentimes, releases state that the victim will not seek further damages from the liable party for their injuries.
 
After the defense attorney prepares the release, it will be sent to your personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will read the document carefully, ensuring that all the settlement terms are acceptable.
 
If both sides agree on the language included in the release, the process moves forward. If not, the attorneys may request that a judge rule on a particular element of the document.
 
This can cause a delay in receiving your settlement check.
 
After the release has been agreed upon by everyone, you will sign it. You should read the release carefully and discuss it with your attorney before signing.

Releasing the Check

Once the release has been signed, the relevant party will write the check for your payment. Typically, the at-fault party’s insurance provider is responsible for releasing the settlement check.
 
Insurance companies are legally obligated to issue the settlement check as soon as they obtain your signed release.
 
Oftentimes, insurance providers will write the check to the claimant and their attorney. Most personal injury attorneys will guide you through the process of handling any other required allocations of your settlement. This can include liens and legal fees.
 
When your attorney receives the settlement check, they will deposit it into an escrow account. This helps to ensure that the relevant insurance company’s check clears.

Resolving Any Liens

Signing the release is the primary step after your injury case has reached a settlement. After your lawyer deposits the check into the escrow account, they will help you to allocate the money properly.
 
For example, claimants are required to resolve any liens before receiving the money from their settlement.
 
A “lien” occurs when someone has the legal right to another person’s assets. In personal injury cases, two types of liens are common. These are governmental liens and medical liens.
 
If a medical provider paid for your treatments and care following your accident, they may have a medical lien on a portion of your settlement. The same is true if a government agency, like Medicare or Medicaid, covered a portion of your treatment.
 
Other parties that may have a lien include:

•       An insurance provider for covering your medical costs
•       A former spouse to whom you owe child support
•       A previous attorney to whom you owe payment for services

Any liens must be paid off before you will be able to recover money from your injury settlement. Failing to pay the debts that you owe may result in significant legal consequences.
 
Your personal injury attorney can handle the process of settling your liens.

Paying Contingency Fees and Legal Costs

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that your lawyer does not receive payment unless they secure a settlement or verdict in your case.
 
Typically, you will agree to a certain percentage of your settlement that will be allocated to legal fees. Contingency fee payment structures help to reduce upfront costs for injury victims.
 
While it may be impossible for a claimant to pay their lawyer out-of-pocket, they can agree to pay for legal services from their settlement amount. The specific percentage deducted for contingency fees will vary.
 
It is important to discuss payment with your attorney before deciding to file a personal injury claim. Sometimes, a lawyer or firm will deduct additional charges related to your case.
 
That is why you should have a very clear understanding of your attorney’s payment structure before you begin the legal process.

Receive Your Check

After everything is taken care of, your lawyer’s firm will write you a check for the remaining amount. The firm will forward the check to your address.
 
Once you receive the settlement, you can use the money as you see fit.
 
When you are wondering how to track a Las Vegas personal injury settlement check, an accomplished lawyer can help you to understand each step in the process.