A car crash can be a traumatic event, and it only gets more complicated if you have to take the other driver to court to get compensation for your damages and medical expenses. But if that driver doesn’t have any money, how will you get paid? Show
Don’t panic: there are still ways to collect what you are owed, whether through the insurance company or the courts. Obtaining the compensation you deserve after a car crash when the other driver doesn’t have money is possible, so long as you are patient and prepared. Getting Money Through Chicago Insurance Agencies When The Other Driver Can’t PayIn most cases, insurance companies are the first recourse when it comes to getting compensation for medical expenses and vehicle repairs after a crash. However, there’s a chance the driver at-fault for the accident didn’t carry adequate insurance. An Insurance Research Council study estimates that nearly 12% of Illinois drivers are uninsured. Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage Policies for Illinois DriversIllinois is an “at-fault” state, meaning the driver that caused the crash is held responsible for the damages. Drivers are required to carry liability insurance and uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage. These policies cover medical expenses when the other driver can’t pay. Collision coverage is optional but can be beneficial. This policy will pay for expenses to repair your car if the other driver is uninsured, but you must have the policy to use it. The At-Fault Driver’s Employer Could Foot The BillIf the at-fault driver was driving while on the clock, their employer could be held responsible for your damages and medical bills. The driver’s personal insurance will likely be the first avenue pursued, but the employer could be required to use their liability insurance to cover your compensation. And there could be a chance the crash involved a teenager without their own insurance. The responsibility would fall to their parents or guardians to take care of your expenses. Court-Ordered Compensation in ChicagoWhile insurance may be the first place to look when getting compensation after a crash, there could still be challenges. Even if your lawsuit rules in your favor, you may need further assistance from the court in getting the compensation you’re owed. The Court May Order The Defendant Sell Their AssetsIf the defendant does not have insurance to cover your losses and your damages exceed the insurance policy you have, you could be allowed to sue for further costs. If the defendant is shown to have no money to pay you, the court may order them to sell the assets they own. They could also garnish their wages until you’re fully paid for the damage they caused. Payment Plans Could Get You Paid Over TimeA judge could order the defendant to pay you on a schedule. This is typically done when the defendant cannot pay the entire balance of damages owed all at once. Defendants commonly agree to this method because it makes the debt more tolerable. However, it is not a guaranteed method of getting your money, and it will take time to recover the total compensation you’re owed. Interest could also be collected as part of the plan, complicating matters further. Be Wary of Pre-Settlement Cash AdvancesLike usual car insurance claims, getting your compensation can be a lengthy affair. Even with an attorney working for you, you may feel stressed and want your money sooner than the courts or insurance companies can get it to you. Avoid services that offer pre-settlement loans. These often operate on the basis that you’ll be loaned some money that you can pay back once your settlement is awarded. However, that should be taken with a grain of salt: you have to win the settlement before you have the money to pay back the loan. Losing the settlement or not getting as much of an award as you thought could backfire on you. Having an attorney by your side will help mitigate that risk throughout this process. Contact Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. TodayCar crashes are a risk drivers face every day on the road, and facing the prospect of not having compensation for someone else’s negligence can be daunting. However, having an attorney to guide you through the claims process and to assist you during legal recourse may be your best option to gain compensation. At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we know how challenging life can be after an accident. The prospect of medical bills and car repairs going unpaid can seriously impact your health and mental well-being. That is why we tenaciously fight for your rights through settlement negotiations or to win a claim with your best outcome at heart. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today at 312-236-2900 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. George Simons | October 19, 2022 Summary: When you get sued and you have no money, debt collectors can garnish your wages and seize your property to get the funds repaid. However, you may be protected by some of these collection methods, depending on which state you live in. SoloSuit can help you respond to your debt collection lawsuit and win in court. Being served with a debt collection lawsuit can be extremely stressful, especially if you are already struggling to stay afloat financially. The prospect of going to court and defending yourself against a large debt collection company can be intimidating and even overwhelming. That fear is often exacerbated when you are down to your last dime and unable to pay if you lose the legal battle. What can happen if the debt collection company wins their lawsuit against youYou would expect a creditor or debt collector to sue you only after they have determined that you can pay. However, sometimes you find yourself in court knowing fully well that you can't afford to pay if you lose. Unfortunately, having no money is not a defense and that knowledge is essential if you find yourself facing a lawsuit. Debt collection cases are all about the creditor or debt collector proving that someone owes them money according to a signed contract. Many debt collectors file lawsuits assuming that the debtors won't Answer the Summons, and as a result, lose the case by default. Since default judgments last a long time, some creditors and collectors sue you because they hope you may be able to pay back what you owe in the future. Whatever the issue, losing a case when you can't pay can be a nightmare. What happens if you lose a lawsuit and you don't pay?If a judgment is entered against you, and you lack the financial resources to pay, the judgment becomes an additional debt that will need to be repaid. In many instances, the person or company suing you will seek compensation from you in one form or another. This may include:
Let's take a moment to break each of these methods down in detail. Wage garnishmentOne option potentially available to the plaintiff is initiating a wage garnishment. They prefer this option if you are gainfully employed and receiving non-exempt income from a job. A debt collector cannot access your income if you earn less than minimum wage or receive social security or disability. On the other hand, if you are paid more than minimum wage or have a salaried position, a debt collector could garnish up to 25% of your earnings. It's important to note that wage garnishment laws vary by state. For example, the state of New York declares many types of income to be exempt from garnishment and other collection methods. The types of income include Supplemental Security Income, welfare, Spousal Support, Child Support, Unemployment Benefits, Disability Benefits, Veterans Benefits, and more. Bank account freezesIn addition to wage garnishment, a debt collector who wins a judgment against you will likely try to liquidate funds maintained in your bank account or checking account. However, creditors cannot liquidate those funds if you have a retirement account like an account protected under ERISA, such as a 401K. IRA's are more vulnerable, but each state has rules governing whether they can be garnished to satisfy a debt. Nevertheless, the funds in your checking account could be accessed and drained to pay a portion of the judgment. Property liensOnce they obtain a judgment, creditors and debt collectors can record a lien on your property at the deeds registry. In effect, they own part of your property because of the money you owe. They can also place a lien on your home if you have high home equity. The law regulates if and when a creditor can place a lien on your home. It's crucial to find out if you qualify for property lien exemptions, which vary by state. What happens if you get sued and you have no money or assets?You may feel that you don't have to worry about a judgment if you have no money or assets that are collectible. And you might be right. In fact, a lack of property and money can make you judgment-proof in some cases. However, that's not always the case, and being judgment-proof largely depends on your state of residence and its garnishment laws. Even if you own nothing now, the creditor can come after you in the future. Remember that judgments are usually renewable, meaning they can be valid for many years. So if you plan to own property or earn money in the future, you're not immune to judgments. Let's consider an example of judgment-proof. Example: Mark, who lives in Florida, lost a debt collection lawsuit in 2010 but was unable to pay. It's been twelve years, but the judgment is still active because such a decision lasts 20 years in Florida. After 20 years, it is possible to renew it. If Mark gets a job paying more than minimum wage, or buys a property, the creditor can still put a lien on his property or bank account to pay his 2010 judgment. What happens if someone sues you and you don't have the money?It is important that you do not ignore a Summons for debt collection. Instead, file an Answer to preserve your ability to fight the lawsuit. Check the statute of limitations on debt in your state. In most states, the clock on the statute of limitation starts at the date of the last activity on the account. If the statute of limitations has expired, the creditor or debt collector cannot legally sue you. If you cannot prevent the case from going to court and you lose, you may still have a way out. Attempt to negotiate with the plaintiffIf you lack the funds to pay the judgment in full, you could reach out to the plaintiff and try to negotiate a post-judgment settlement. This may be worthwhile since, at the end of the day, the plaintiff wants to receive some form of compensation. They may accept a lower amount or a payment plan so they can get the money back. Whether the plaintiff is willing to accept a lower amount or agrees to set up a payment plan depends largely on the creditor and the amount owed. Consider bankruptcyIn many instances, if you are sued and lose the lawsuit, you may be in a position to file for bankruptcy, depending on the amount owed from the suit. The debt from a judgment can usually be erased if you take the proper steps to formally declare for bankruptcy. And it can provide the statutory protections for your personal property when you are being pursued by a debt collector on an adverse judgment. For example, if you declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your creditors no longer have the right to try and collect from you (which can give you financial and psychological relief, since you should stop receiving hounding phone calls and correspondence). Bankruptcy is generally not recommended if you are trying to address a single debt. Instead, bankruptcy should only be considered after conducting a thorough review of your finances, income, and debts. How to prevent a default judgmentConsumers often bring a default judgment on themselves by ignoring the lawsuit. If you don't file an Answer with the court, you lose your chance to give an affirmative defense, and automatically lose the case. SoloSuit has all the documents you need to respond to debt collection letters and lawsuits, force a suit out of court, and offer to settle. One of these documents may be what you need:
If you need help on how to handle debt collectors and creditors, SoloSuit has all the resources you need. We'll answer all your questions and guide you along the way. Check out the video below to learn more about how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit:
What is SoloSuit?SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors. You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you. Respond with SoloSuit"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James Get Started We have
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Being sued for car accident, but have no assets
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