If you have worked with an attorney to help negotiate with insurance carriers, then your attorney will receive the final settlement check from the defendant. In most situations, personal injury attorneys take these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that the injury victim only pays legal fees and taxes after they receive a settlement or favorable jury verdict. When an attorney receives the settlement check, they will pay themselves the agreed-upon amount and then hand the rest over to the injury victim. If there were any medical liens in place by health care providers, they will also be paid out of the settlement check.