PROS

• A structured settlement may provide a plaintiff with a substantial tax benefit. Many lump-sum settlements are considered income and must be claimed on tax returns. Funds received from an annuity are tax-free as long as the plaintiff does not control the funds.
• Plaintiffs who receive lump-sum settlements often spend everything within five years. Afterwards, many become dependent on the government for their support. With a structured settlement, the funds are preserved throughout the time of plaintiff’s disability.
• Annuity funds must be managed by a professional. Proper financial planning will help make sure plaintiffs have enough funds to cover future expenses.
• Parties may tailor annuities to cover a plaintiff’s specific needs and all sorts of future demands or contingencies.
• In most states, annuities are protected by state insurance laws that guarantee the obligations of a bankrupt insurer will be covered.
• A lump-sum payment may be combined with a structured settlement to meet immediate expenses, such as medical bills, repayment of debts, rehabilitation costs, and the like.
• Parties can dedicate funds of a structured settlement to cover unanticipated advances in medicine so that if medical science develops a miracle cure, the plaintiff can give it a try.
• A structured settlement may allow parties who are far apart in their settlement negotiations to close the gap and reach an agreement acceptable to both the plaintiff and the defendant.

CONS

• If a plaintiff retains too much control over the structured settlement proceeds, the IRS may look at the situation and decide that the tax break must be forfeited.
• A plaintiff may fear that, no matter how the settlement protects against negative economic conditions such as inflation or recession, unknown changes in the economy could make the annuity payments too small.
• Sometimes, an annuity is placed with brokers who do not have sufficient protection for insolvency (when financial obligations outweigh assets).
• Insurance companies are usually reluctant to disclose how much they will have to pay to buy an annuity covering the amount of the settlement. A structured settlement frequently costs insurance companies much less than it would to make a lump-sum settlement. Without this information, however, the plaintiff’s attorney may not be able to make a complete assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of a settlement offer.

In many circumstances, a settlement may be a faster, cheaper, and less stressful alternative to trial. An experienced personal injury attorney can discuss the facts of you case with you and help you decide whether a structured settlement would be your best interests.

What is it really (structured settlement)?

In simple terms, a structured settlement is a powerful financial tool created exclusively for injured people. You choose a structured settlement instead of taking one lump-sum payment when you receive money from a personal injury lawsuit. Regular payments are then made over a specified period of time to match your future needs and goals. Financial advantages include:

• Guaranteed payments from the annuities purchased to fund your structured settlement
• 100% lifetime exclusion from income, dividend and capital gains taxes
• Customized planning with trained consultants to meet both immediate and future financial obligations
• No risk of losing money on market-vulnerable investments or from poor financial management
• Eligibility maintained for federal and private health care plans

For more, speak with one of the personal injury / medical malpractice attorneys at the law office of CHRISTINE THEA RUBINSTEIN and Associates.

Wide Range of Qualified Cases

Structured settlements apply to a wide variety of injury cases regardless of how much money is involved. Consider structured settlements for any personal injury, workers’ compensation or medical malpractice cases involving:

• Long-term medical needs
• Temporary or permanent disabilities
• Minors or the mentally incompetent
• Severe injuries that result in brain damage or shortened life expectancy
• Surviving spouse and/or dependents in a death case

Structured settlements are now increasingly used for cases that involve other types of personal damages as well, including discrimination, wrongful termination, property loss (construction defects), divorce, sexual harassment and environmental harm.

Payments Fit Your Future Needs

Structured settlements grow your funds through interest-earning annuities purchased from top-rated insurance companies. The money is then distributed in whatever fashion works best for you: future lump sums on specified dates; over a set period; over a lifetime; monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually; in level or increasing payments; or in some combination of these options.
We are dedicated to your success — so contact us. Speak with one of our knowledgeable Long Island medical malpractice litigation, personal injury litigation attorneys today from wherever you are in New York in Nassau and Suffolk, Brooklyn, Kings and Queens Counties, on Long Island and all New York City boroughs including Bronx, Westchester, Richmond County, and Manhattan. Call 800-488-6734 today.
We are a personal injury / medical malpractice law firm. We help people fight for their legal rights.

Get Help With Your Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Case Now

You should know you have certain legal rights and must be very selective of the Lawyer or Law Firm that you chose to represent you.
Have an Attorney council you on the Right Decision for You.