Pre-settlement funding: Auto & Motor Vehicle

Pre-settlement funding for car accident claims.

How pre-settlement funding works for individuals with pending car accident claims. Non-recourse funding is repaid only from settlement proceeds.

Non-recourse funding is repaid only from a settlement or award. Independent capital providers set the terms.

Bills do not wait for your case.

Rent, medical bills and living costs keep arriving while a case moves through the court. An advance against a pending case can cover them and is repaid only if the case produces a recovery.

Overview

How car accident cases are reviewed

Car accidents are the most common case type funded through pre-settlement advances. Whether the claim involves a rear-end collision, intersection accident, DUI driver, or highway incident, the structure of funding is the same: a non-recourse advance issued against the expected settlement or verdict, repaid only if the case resolves favorably.

All vehicle types: passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, rideshare (Uber/Lyft), taxis, and commercial vehicles
All collision types: rear-end, head-on, intersection, DUI, hit-and-run, and multi-vehicle
Injuries from minor to catastrophic: whiplash, fractures, TBI, spinal injuries, wrongful death
State rules vary
Qualifying criteria

What makes a qualifying case

Not every claim is a fit for funding. These are the factors our review weighs most heavily for this case type. Meeting them does not guarantee that a provider will fund.

A documented collision with a clear at-fault party and available insurance coverage (the other driver, or your own UM/UIM policy)
Documented injuries supported by medical treatment — emergency care, imaging, physical therapy, or surgery
An attorney retained on a contingency fee basis who is actively pursuing the claim
A claim filed in a US state or federal court in a state that permits funding

Requirement 1

Active, filed claim with retained contingency counsel

Requirement 2

Documented injury with corresponding medical treatment

Requirement 3

Identifiable insurance coverage or solvent at-fault party

Terms

How terms are set

Rates and terms are set by the capital provider and written in the provider’s agreement before signing.

Term
How it works
Decision
Made by the independent capital provider, not by Criterica Capital
Advance size
Set by the capital provider
Pricing
Set by the capital provider and written in its agreement before signing
Repayment
Non-recourse funding is repaid only from a recovery. The provider’s agreement states the terms.
Process

How the process works for car accident claims

  1. STEP 1
    Apply
    Submit basic case information online or by phone. No financial documents required.
  2. STEP 2
    Attorney Review
    Criterica Capital contacts your attorney directly. They provide case documentation for review.
  3. STEP 3
    Provider decision
    Independent capital providers review the file, decide whether to fund and set their own terms. Criterica Capital does not make the funding decision.
  4. STEP 4
    Provider agreement
    If a provider funds the case, the provider's agreement states how and when funds are paid.
Underwriting

How we underwrite this case type

For car accident claims, our underwriting weighs liability clarity and the available policy limits against the documented injury. We assess the police report and any comparative-fault exposure, then model the expected net recovery after medical liens and fees using outcome data for comparable auto claims in the relevant jurisdiction. Clear rear-end and DUI cases with documented injuries underwrite quickly; disputed-liability and low-policy-limit cases require closer analysis of the realistic recovery.

Typical timeline

Most car accident claims resolve within 12 to 24 months, though disputed-liability cases and those involving serious injury can run longer.

By state

Car Accident Funding by state

Statutes of limitations, comparative-fault rules and damages caps for this case type vary by state. Select a state for the rules that apply.

FAQ

Car Accident Funding: common questions

Pre-settlement funding is a non-recourse purchase of a portion of the proceeds of a pending legal claim — not a loan. If the case does not result in a recovery, nothing is owed. Rates, fees, and repayment terms are disclosed in full in the funding agreement, which the applicant’s attorney reviews before signing. Availability and terms vary by state.

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