Subscribe Feed (RSS)As we’ve discussed in the past, the term “settlement funding” is actually a misnomer. It is actually not a loan. Rather, it is funding provided in advance of obtaining a settlement of your claim. It truly is a form of venture-capital.
An important aspect of this form of funding is the fact that the applicant bears no risk in this transaction, a benefit of having a non-recourse loan.
The process begins when the lender and applicant strike an agreement. According to the terms of your agreement, if you lose your case, you do not have to repay the loan. Many consider this form of funding, correctly so, as a no-risk type of financial assistance to which you have access while you are awaiting settlement.
Settlement loans come in a variety of guises. An understanding of the types of cases for which settlement funding is issued will prove useful.
Personal injury suits very frequently occur as a result of motor vehicle collisions: Personal injuries of many types occur as result of incidents out of which this type of claim arises. On top of damage to the vehicle you occupied, there are, on many occasions, hospital bills, ambulance bills, and other medical expenses to pay. Due to the stakes involved in such cases, they are often not settled for years.
Injuries to children: These can be difficult cases for which to obtain a pre-settlement loan. Due to the risk of guardians pursuing a claim to solely benefit them and not an injured child, the Court will often appoint an attorney ad litem. The attorney ad litem represents only the child’s interests, interests that may be antithetical to that of the guardian’s.
Cases involving slip-and-fall: This is the most common mechanism that results in personal injury, many times requiring settlement funding. Many retailers will challenge every aspect of such claims, principally due to both their prevalence and cost. If video-surveillance is available, as is true in many instances, a copy must be procured. In these cases, it is very important to clarify how the incident occurred, such as the surface on which the slip occurred, anything that may serve as an obstacle in your path and that resulted in your fall, etc. In such cases, witness testimony can prove very useful and should be elicited if both possible and it will support your claim. One should never leave to chance details regarding the manner in which the incident occurred. Your chances of obtaining settlement funding are increased when you provide a complete description of the incident.
Learn more about settlement funding. Stop by Dr. Tom Rhudy’s site where you can find out all about the benefits of obtaining a settlement loan and what it can do for you.
Tags: finance, lawsuit loan, settlement funding
