Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, your life can certainly be impacted as a result. Injuries from an accident can leave damage that, in some cases may even be permanent. Much of the time, injuries have the ability to leave a person experiencing immense hardship as a result. Because of this, a person may consider pursuing compensation in the form of a claim with the insurance company. If you have children, and are required to make child support payments, you may consider whether the child support payments you are obligated to pay will change or even increase as a result of your settlement. Speaking with a lawyer to obtain the answers to the many questions you may have regarding child support and personal injury settlements may be in your best interest.
What are common ways that a person may be injured?
There are a number of situations that might warrant a person to consider seeking damages following an injury. Personal injury settlements are a way for the person who has been injured by the negligent party to recoup some of their losses. Common types of injuries include:
- Car Accidents
- Work Related Injuries
- Slip and Falls
- Premises Liability
- Medical Malpractice
What should I do if I am struggling to make child support payments following an injury?
If you have experienced an accident, you may experience financial challenges as a result. Some may stand to face exorbitant medical bills and physical injuries that cause a person to be out of work for a period of time. You may be worried over how you will afford to make your child support payments, especially if you are struggling to afford your own living expenses. To start, it’s always a good idea to speak with your child’s parent if you expect payments to be late or you are struggling to make your payments at all. It’s also a good idea to speak with a child support lawyer regarding your options. In some cases, you may be able to modify your child support, especially if your inability to pay is out of your hands.
If I was not making child support payments can my settlement be taken to cover back child support?
Yes, if you are awarded a settlement, and owe child support arrears, it may be taken from your personal injury settlement. For many, this may come as a shock, especially if you were reliant upon the settlement to cover your losses. It’s important to be aware that although your settlement was intended to cover things like lost wages and medical expenses, had you received your wages, a portion of them should have gone towards child support.
Is it possible to pause payments or modify child support until I receive my settlement?
Struggling to pay bills on time is a common repercussion of a personal injury. In some cases, you may be able to work out an agreement with your child’s parent while you are experiencing financial challenges. However, it’s important that you keep clear documentation of the agreement you are able to reach with the other parent. Understanding your options can be especially complicated, which is why you should speak with a child support lawyer for guidance.
For more information about how a personal injury settlement may impact your child support payments, contact a child support lawyer, like a child support law firm in Tampa FL.
Thank you to the experts at The Mckinney Law Group for their insight into child support law.
