Going For A Settlement When You Are Already On Social Security
Posted on: 8 April 2015
If you were injured while driving an automobile and you already get social security for a disability, you want to hire a lawyer. You want to make sure that getting a settlement for the accident doesn't affect the amount of social security that you get each month.
You also have to determine if the amount you have to pay in legal fees, along with what you could potentially get is worth your time. Here are a few things you want to ask your lawyer:
What is the Cost for Services?
Since you are on social security, you may not have a lot of extra funds to pay for a lawyer. Ask the lawyer if you have to pay up front, if you need a deposit, how much of the settlement they get, and how they charge. If they are willing to wait for a settlement to come through before collecting payment, this would be the most affordable option for you.
What is the Settlement Potential?
The amount of money you could potentially get is going to be based off the severity of your injuries. If your injuries from the accident have made your disabled condition even worse, and you now need to have surgery or other corrective treatment, you have great evidence for a case.
If you have injuries that will heal easily or that aren't considered life threatening, you may not have a strong shot at getting a large sum of money. The lawyer can talk with you about the potential of your case, to see if it's worth the time and investment.
Could You Risk Your Social Security?
If you are going to claim your injuries to get a settlement, you will need to be seen by a medical professional. If the medical professional doesn't think your injuries are bad, or that you aren't capable of working, this could be bad for your current social security situation.
If you get a lump sum, you could be at risk for getting denied social security. Talk with your lawyer about the risk you could have with your main source of money.
You don't want to file any claims or talk with any insurance companies until you weigh out all of your options with a lawyer. There are a lot of different issues that can arise when you are on social security and you are going for an injury settlement, so find a social security disability lawyer that knows how to handle your case.
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