Get your settlement structured!
So what's with the weird graphic? Well, here you see what could be the only artist's depiction of a structured settlement on the Internet. The holder of the settlement lives in the lovely green sphere of wellbeing that represents their annuity, cocooned in an impregnable bubble and knowing only calm and tranquility. This Sphere of Ultimate Wellbeing is in turn protected from the outside world and from all that might be thrown at it by rigid and unbreakable rods that represent the law. These cannot be modified in any way and there is no escaping them. Indeed, the very Pleasure Dome of Kublai Khan could not compete. Such total protection for the holder is what the Creators of the Legal Universe might first have hoped for from their 'structured settlements' when they dreamed them up. Sadly, their real nature has turned out to be somewhat less than perfect. Like most things in life, they have their flaws, and suit some better than others.
OK! Enough surrealist tripe for now! Those of you who think that this nightmarish vision is a low ploy to get your interest might just be right. But because structured settlements are so hard to illustrate, on this site we try to describe them in plain English. For the sake of clarity and to protect the sanity of the reader, 'Legalese' is kept to a minimum, and what there is is explained in a glossary.
About This Site
Here, then, we try to throw some light on the so-called structured settlement, a term much bandied about by personal injury compensation lawyers but not always well explained to the layman. The reason for this is simple. These financial compensation agreements backed by legal enforcement (for that is what they are) can be complex and anything but easy to explain. However, before reading any further, please understand that this is not a legal web site and we do not offer legal advice. Nor is it a financial advice website; you will have to look elsewhere for that. So, you may ask, what on earth is the point of it? Sounds like a very good time to clear off, right? Well, the chances are you did not come here looking for fun or entertainment. It is much more likely that you've been driven here by adverse circumstances which make you feel vulnerable, uneasy, fearful or just plain scared. Calm down, it's normal. It's what happens to all of us when we are confronted by situations we do not understand, that have the potential to change our lives for ever and that are unavoidable. It could be the need to slay a dragon, to fight hobgoblins or to take a legal action that do it for you; all would be likely to send anyone into a tail spin if they had no knowledge of how to cope. The key is to find out more about the source of one's fears. Hopefully our free information will help to prevent any structured settlement phobias from developing and will also provide some guidance. It is meant to help you focus by giving you a general overview of the subject, to clarify the enveloping murk and to help you talk with professional advisors. Individual lawyers, brokers or annuity providers are not recommended because the law varies according to where you live and it is essential to get local advice. The site is intended for those who are starting out on the process of seeking personal injury damages or those who have previously been awarded damages in a structured settlement which they now find too restrictive. We just hope that you will find these notes useful.
Just been injured?
A word of warning: should anyone be reading this that has just been injured in an accident but not yet seen a doctor, get thee hence! Seek medical attention immediately so that your injuries can be properly assessed. What might seem to be a minor injury now could turn out to be far more serious in the long run. Get the best medical attention you can afford and keep all medical records in case you do eventually have to make a damages claim. The records will help your case as they will be proof of the extent of your injury and can be used as testimony in this regard. Once you have been through the initial medical assessments, you can then start thinking about the cause of the accident (or get professional help if you're in no fit state to do so). Was someone negligent? Few of us ever want to get involved in legal actions and it is perfectly natural to be reluctant to initiate proceedings. But don't dither, because if you have to make a claim, certain actions must be taken before set deadlines. If you are even toying with the idea of suing for damages, find a good personal injury lawyer and ask them to make an initial assessment of your case. Allow them to advise you and then take their advice. You can't do this yourself, so don't even think about it.