Settlement Loans as a Financial Blanket
During a lawsuit a plaintiff can have a major financial burden. This is especially true with injury or workmen’s compensation lawsuits. During these the plaintiff cannot work or is unable to work, eliminating their income source. During this period a huge debt can occur, including lose of property due to non-payment on an outstanding loan with a traditional financial institution. Vehicles can also be repossessed during this period due to non-payment. There is a solution: a settlement loan.
The American Bar Association prevents attorneys from loaning money to their clients for a few reasons. The main factor is the fact that if your attorney was to lend you money during a pending lawsuit it could create a conflict of interest. An example would be you owing an outstanding loan to your attorney and feel obligated to settle for a less amount to satisfy that loan. This is where settlement loan providers come in to save the day.
A settlement loan is really not a loan, unlike traditional loans your current income source and credit history do not play a factor in its approval. Instead, it’s based upon the merit of your pending lawsuit. Factors considered are the amount of money being sought, the stability of the case itself and past results in cases related to it. Also, unlike traditional loans you don’t have to pay back a settlement loan if you lose your case; the money is yours to keep.
This is a great asset to a plaintiff who has financially responsibilities and no income source. It allows you to borrow against the amount your case is worth, and can be spent on whatever you like. This includes bills, vacations, medical bills, legal funding and much more. The hidden aspect that many people over look is the fact a settlement loan allows a case to complete fully.
It’s common for plaintiffs to accept a settlement instead of the court issuing a settlement amount. This is usually much lower than what they would receive if the court was to make the settlement order. So, in theory not only can they help support your financial needs during your pending case they can also help your attorney achieve the maximum amount of money due to you.
A few things to note. First, you will not be able to receive a settlement loan unless you are being represented by an attorney. Second, these types of loans generally command high interest rates and high loan processing costs. It is wise to shop around as these rates vary greatly between settlement loan companies. If you need to obtain one of these types of loans, do your due diligence and shop around as this may save you quite a bit in how much you will have to pay back (interest payment). Third, some states are now requiring loan companies to be licensed. This is actually a good thing as state regulation will offer the consumer additional protections. Therefore, if you plan to obtain a settlement loan, you may benefit by dealing with a settlement loan company that is state licensed.