Fighting lawsuits can be overwhelming for plaintiffs. While in the middle of their case, it can be difficult to make financial decisions with a clear head. To lessen the stress, many plaintiffs use lawsuit loans, which allow them to use money from their settlement prior to resolution. While waiting for a case to resolve, there are certain financial priorities a plaintiff should have, and lawsuit loans can help plaintiffs focus on them.
Have a secure source of income. The “wait and see” game should not be played in this situation. While waiting for the case to resolve so that you can claim your settlement, make sure that you will have a way to pay bills in the meantime, because life doesn’t wait. This is often overlooked because plaintiffs can sometimes misjudge how much time it’s going to take. How long can you go without the settlement, if you’re not employed? Three months? A year? What happens if a settlement is never reached? Creditors won’t have the patience to wait for your case to resolve; they’ll want payment as soon as possible, and you don’t want to have to deal with them while you’re in the middle of your case. You need to be prepared for the long haul. A lawsuit loan is one option for plaintiffs in this situation.
Stay out of the red. Not only is it important to know that you will have a source of income, but plaintiffs really need to focus on staying on top of bill payments as well. It is actually a smart legal strategy as well as a stress reducer. If a plaintiff is injured and is dealing with a court case, or even just a court case, then their other duties usually take a backseat. Don’t get stuck in the legal world! Stay on top of household payments, medical bills, credit card bills, and any other bills you have, because if you get too deep in debt, you may be forced into accepting a lower settlement because you can’t afford to keep the legal battle going without settling your debt. Staying in a good financial position can also mean that you’ll have a clear head for your case. This is another reason why some plaintiffs choose lawsuit loans.
If you’re still employed, make sure to work with your employer concerning the time you’ll have to spend on your case, especially if the legal process is taking a long time. Many plaintiffs underestimate the time that they will have to dedicate to their case. They could be drowning in legal documents. They will have to spend time preparing for court. They will have to spend a lot of time with their lawyer. Make sure your employer is understanding of your situation and that you might have to take days off for court dates. To deal with the loss of income from working less hours, plaintiffs can again turn to lawsuit loans to stay afloat.
About the Author: Steven Medvin is the Executive Director of SMP Advance Funding, LLC, which provides lawsuit funding to individuals who need a lawsuit loan for pending lawsuits. For more information please visit www.smpadvance.com.
