In today’s court systems, the settlement process can drag on for years, causing significant financial strain, particularly for people with pending personal injury cases. To alleviate the financial burden, many victims turn to pre-settlement legal funding, commonly known as lawsuit funding. While these funds offer immediate relief, we need to be aware of the restrictions imposed on their use and the ethical concerns associated with their mismanagement.
Here are the limitations of pre-settlement funding and the ethical dilemma surrounding their usage.
Restrictions on the Use of Pre-Settlement Funds
While some legal funding companies allow you to use the pre-settlement advance as you wish, others have restrictions on what you can spend it on. These restrictions are for ethical reasons and stop you from using the money on legal fees, illegal activities, or business investments. However, you can still use the money for accident-related expenses and essential costs.
Let’s look at cases where ethical lenders put limits on pre-settlement funding:
- Financing an Ongoing Personal Injury Lawsuit or Paying your Attorney: Plaintiffs are unable to utilize pre-settlement legal funding for fees and costs associated with an active personal injury lawsuit or payments to their attorneys. This includes expenses related to retaining experts, filing fees, deposition costs, and any other charges connected to the case’s prosecution.
- Recreational Activities or Criminal Matters: Misusing pre-settlement funding for recreational purposes or engaging in illegal activities is strictly prohibited. Ethical funding companies prioritize responsible financial actions and aim to avoid any liability arising from borrowers’ irresponsible behavior.
- Profiting from the Funds: Using a pre-settlement cash advance to generate personal profit, such as investing in unrelated ventures, is ill-advised. These funds are designed to address the aftermath of personal injuries, and using them for profit-making purposes may lead to tax implications.
Ethical Dilemma and Wise Use of Funds
While legal funding can alleviate immediate financial pressures during a personal injury case, you should consider the ethical implications and exercise responsible financial decision-making. No matter who you choose to fund your case with, you should carefully weigh your funding decision based on your individual financial situation.
If you find yourself in a place where your bills are mounting, and you need immediate financial support while the lawsuit is pending, Pre-settlement funding can be a real lifesaver. It can also stop defendants or insurers from taking advantage of your financial vulnerability in settlement talks and assist you in getting fair compensation.
However, even if the legal funding company has restrictions on the use of funds, exercising caution and evaluating whether the advance is truly necessary should be your priority. Even though the legal funding company may have certain limitations on funding usage, be cautious and evaluate if the advance is genuinely necessary.
If you can continue working and sustain yourself despite the circumstances leading to the lawsuit, or if alternative financial resources are available, surrendering a portion of the settlement or recovery to a lender may not be the most prudent option.
The Takeaway
Learning the complexities of pre-settlement legal funding involves understanding the restrictions on its use and considering the ethical concerns surrounding its application. While these funds provide temporary relief, remember to exercise responsible financial decision-making. This will help you use the funds wisely. Pre-settlement funding is a good idea when it is used for the intended purpose. It lets you maintain your financial integrity while pursuing justice in your pending legal case.
Curious to know if pre-settlement legal funding is the right option for you? See what Baker Street Funding has to offer and get pre-qualified in as little as 5 minutes.
