From: Gary E. Rosenber
New York attorneypersonal injury and accident lawyer
Structured settlements are lawsuit settlements - usually from personal injury or accident cases - paid out over a time period of months or years. "Structure" refers to how the payments are made. There is infinite flexibility in making a payment schedule for a structured settlement.
The purpose of a structured settlement is to protect the accident victim from him or herself; most average people, especially after being seriously hurt or injured in an accident, might not be able to preserve a large monetary recovery that might have to last them a lifetime. So, for the benefit of such persons and their family or dependents, and to ensure their long-term financial security, money may be paid out to them over time.
Now come along outside companies that offer a lump sum of cash to persons receiving payments pursuant to a structured settlement. We've all seen the television commercials: "It's your money and you should have it now." These companies buy the right to the accident victim's future payments with a single, discounted, lump sum payment.