Who gets paid first in a personal injury settlement?

When a settlement check is issued, it is typically sent to your attorney and deposited into a client trust account. Disbursements follow a strict legal hierarchy. Attorney fees and legal costs, including agreed-upon percentages and case expenses such as court filing fees, are deducted first. Next, any medical liens, including outstanding bills from healthcare providers or reimbursements to insurance companies that covered your treatment, are paid. After all legal and medical obligations are resolved, the remaining balance is disbursed to you.