How to Receive Your Personal Injury Settlement Check in Pittsburgh, PA

If you get injured, filing a lawsuit or insurance claim can allow you to recover damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. However, the process of obtaining your settlement check may take time. Delays to receiving your payout can be frustrating when bills keep coming in and your creditors are waiting to get paid. Knowing the process for receiving your personal injury settlement check in Pittsburgh, PA can help identify why your check is delayed and what you can do about it. 

We think it is wrong that injured victims face unnecessary or unreasonable delays when getting their checks. Morgan & Morgan knows how important receiving a timely payout can be for your recovery and comfort. Our committed attorneys leave nothing to chance and can fight for you until the check arrives.  Contact us now to find out how we can help you get the settlement you deserve.

The Steps for Receiving Your Personal Injury Settlement Check in Pittsburgh

Once negotiations have concluded, you can typically look forward to receiving your check. However, before you can enjoy the proceeds of your settlement, there are some steps in the process. Claimants have to sign paperwork such as the release form, wait for the check to get issued by the insurer, and pay off various lien holders. The check can only begin to make its way to you after all the necessary steps in the process are completed. This process, in detail, includes:

1. Signing a Release Form and Other Documents

One of the most important actions for receiving a check is signing the release form. This document “releases” the defendant from any further legal liabilities in the case and is part of the “order of settlement” paperwork that needs to be completed by both parties. You must sign the release form before the insurance will begin processing and issuing a settlement check. Your attorney should ensure that the terms contained in the release form are satisfactory before you sign.

2. Processing and Issuing the Settlement Check

Once you have done your part and signed all the crucial paperwork, the insurance company is obligated to issue your check within a reasonable time.  However, every insurer has different policies and procedures. Generally, the process of issuing and mailing out your check should not take more than a month. However, your check can get delayed at the insurance company for various reasons, including: 

• The release form was incorrectly signed or contained mistakes 
• The employee dealing with issuing checks is on vacation or off sick 
• The case involves an estate or a minor 

3. The Check Is Deposited

Next, your attorney receives the check from the insurance company. Upon receipt, your lawyer will go ahead and deposit the check into a trust or escrow account and wait until the bank clears the funds. When the check has cleared, the disbursements will begin. First of all, your lienholders and debtors will get paid. This is an important step before you can receive your money. Liens and debts that have to be settled can include:

• Unpaid medical bills
• Reimbursing private health insurance or Medicaid/Medicare 
• Unpaid child support 

Paying off liens is critical as soon as you receive a settlement check, whether you are working with an attorney or handle the case independently. Failing to promptly pay your debtors, such as healthcare providers, can have legal consequences.

4. Deducting Attorney’s Fees and Legal Expenses

Your attorney will now go ahead and deduct their fees and any costs involved in bringing your case from the settlement amount. Depending on the complexity of your personal injury case, legal expenses can include court filing costs, expert witness fees, deposition costs, and others. After the attorney has taken care of deducting fees and expenses, they should issue you a check for the remainder of the settlement amount.

5. Receiving Your Personal Injury Settlement Check

It can be a huge relief to finally hold the settlement check in your hands and have funds available that allow you to move on with your life after a personal injury. Once you have received your check, you can simply deposit it with your bank in Pittsburgh or cash it in. Depending on how fast you would like the funds to be available, you can cash your check at:

• Your bank 
• The institution that issued the check
• A grocery or convenience store
• A check cashing store

When you cash in the check at a bank, the hold period could be up to seven business days or longer, depending on the amount. Alternatively, you could receive your money instantly at a cash checking store. However, fees can be higher at cash checking or convenience stores.

What to Do if Your Settlement Check Is Delayed

If it seems that you have been waiting for your check forever, you might want to investigate why there is a hold-up and who is responsible. Checks can be delayed at the insurance company, your attorney’s office or get lost in the mail. 

At Morgan & Morgan, we understand that injured victims are keen to receive what they are entitled to. Our attorneys will not abandon you once they win the case or negotiate an out-of-court settlement on your behalf. We can be by your side until you hold the check safely in your hands. If your payout seems unreasonably delayed, our experienced attorneys can follow up with the insurance company, track your settlement check, and speed the process along.  

Reasons Why Your Settlement Could Be Delayed

Settlement checks can be delayed for various reasons, including insurance company staff being off sick or on vacation. However, in some cases, the settlement process itself can take an excessive amount of time, depending on: 

The Facts of Your Case

If liability is tricky to determine in your accident, you can expect the insurance company to put up a fight. They may start by denying your claim altogether or making a lowball offer. This typically results in prolonged negotiations which can delay the settlement and your check for a considerable time. 

Your Medical Improvement

It is generally advisable to wait while negotiating a settlement until you have reached maximum improvement. Only then can doctors and your attorney calculate your future expected medical bills and income losses correctly. Settling while you are still recovering or receiving medical treatments can be tricky as you generally give up the right to go after more compensation once you have signed the settlement agreement. 

Suppose you develop complications or further injuries after a settlement has been agreed on. You would then be responsible for your own future medical expenses. While it is understandable that injured victims are eager to receive their checks and start paying off their bills, waiting some time before agreeing on a settlement can work in your favor. 

The Extent of Your Damages 

If you have suffered life-changing or disabling injuries, expect the insurance company to scrutinize every detail of your claim. When a lot of money is at stake, insurers tend to pull out all the stops to try and minimize a settlement. When a settlement reaches six figures, the entire process from settling to receiving your check can be lengthy. In most cases, claimants can help speed up the process by following their medical treatment plan and working with an experienced personal injury attorney.