Injury claim
Suffering a serious injury due to the negligence of another can be a traumatic event. Not only are you dealing with the effects of the injury, but you have to take legal action to make sure that you are compensated for the losses you are suffering through no fault of your own. In addition to both of these aspects, you may face financial hardships. There are life and medical expenses that you have to meet. These hardships get significantly worse if your injury causes you to lose income either temporarily or permanently.
Injury claim
If the party that caused your injury is truly at fault and the negligent tortfeasor has sufficient insurance coverage, then you will likely be compensated eventually for all these expenses. The problem is that you may not see this money for months or even years. You are going to need to have access to funds to provide for your needs until you reach a settlement or a judgment from the court. This may seem distressing, but you have options to help you support yourself during the RI personal injury lawsuit process.
Covering Legal Expenses
The good news is that your Rhode Island personal injury lawyer or Providence car accident attorney will take your case on contingency. That means you pay his fee only if you win the case or a settlement is reached compensating you for your injuries, medical bills and pain and suffering. This fee will be deducted by the Providence slip and fall lawyer or Rhode Island premises liability lawyers from any money that you receive as a settlement or from a judgment.
Your RI auto accident attorneys will typically but are not legally required to advance case costs such as obtaining medical records, deposition transcripts and expert witness fees. The personal injury attorneys in Rhode Island will typically never ask you to pay these funds unless you are compensated for your injuries.
The bottom line is that you will not have to pay up front for any legal expenses. You only pay if you win the case.
Cash Advances
With legal expenses covered by your attorney, you will need to think about medical and other expenses that you might incur. If you are seriously injured, you may not be able to work while the RI negligence cause of action is litigated. Thus, you will lose income as a result the Rhode island car accident. You may not be able to wait for your settlement or judgment to come through. You will need money immediately to survive.
There are financial companies that will extend you a cash advance so that you can get through this time. In order to receive an advance, the finance company will evaluate your case. If they deem it likely that you will win, they will give you the advance. You pay back the advance only if you win or settle your case. If for some reason, your case results in a lower than anticipated settlement or judgment, you will not owe more than the amount of that you are paid. Cash advances are usually not advisable since the interest and fees are usually astronomical. In the end the interest could eat up nearly your entire injury settlement.
Other Funding Options
Due to the hefty fees and interest associated with cash advances, these should really be the last resorts. You should consider other options for paying for bills, housing and life expenses during the RI personal injury claims process before accepting a cash advance from a finance company.
There are many other avenues that you may have at your disposal that can provide you with funds until you receive your settlement. Here are just a few:
• If you have good credit, a personal loan may be an option. You could also use your credit cards for a short-term fix.
• For medical expenses, it is best to contact the hospitals, doctors and other health care providers to see if you get can a discount or work out a reasonable payment plan.
• Friends and family members may be able to support you financially.
• You may qualify for disability, worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits. Make sure you investigate these options as well. Some of these options may mean that their is a lien on your file for reimbursement of those benefits.
Getting back on your feet after a serious injury in Rhode island is a difficult challenge. If your injury is the fault of someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation for losses. Don’t let financial concerns cause you to shy away from a personal injury lawsuit. You have options to provide yourself while you await a settlement or a judgment from the courts. Many of these options offer little to no risk for you. If you don’t win your case, you will not have the legal expenses.
