Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are our own and should not be considered legal advice
USClaims has released the results of our second annual client survey, and the numbers speak for themselves. This year’s data reinforces what we saw in 2024: plaintiffs are feeling financial strain earlier than many attorneys realize, and access to pre-settlement funding is directly shaping how they experience the legal process.
We’re sharing these learnings with attorneys like you because understanding what a plaintiff is going through financially isn’t just good practice; it can directly influence how their case unfolds and, ultimately, what they walk away with.
Here’s what years of experience and the data are telling us.
Methodology
The data referenced in this article was drawn from two USClaims client surveys, one launched in 2024 and the other in 2025. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
Both surveys captured client experiences across key dimensions including timing of funding needs, case duration, overall satisfaction, and likelihood to recommend pre-settlement funding to others. All respondents had already won or settled their court cases and repaid their pre-settlement funding advance at the time they received the survey.
Key Takeaways
- Financial pressure hits fast: Nearly half of plaintiffs need funding within the first month of retaining an attorney, which means having early conversations about their financial situations is essential.
- Most cases take years to resolve: More than two-thirds of plaintiffs reported their case took over a year to settle. Clients need to know what they’re in for, and how they’ll stay afloat financially.
- Awareness of funding remains a gap: Many plaintiffs don’t know pre-settlement funding is an option until their attorney tells them. If you think pre-settlement funding could help your client, say something.
- Funding helps clients hold out for better outcomes: Access to financial support reduces the pressure to accept early, undervalued settlement offers.
- Satisfaction is high and growing: USClaims client satisfaction scores and recommendation rates increased from 86% to 89% and 92% to 96%, respectively, from 2024 to 2025.
Financial Pressure Hits Early
One of the most consistent findings across both our 2024 and 2025 surveys is just how quickly plaintiffs find themselves in financial distress.
In 2025, 28% of respondents said they needed funding immediately after retaining counsel, and another 16% needed it within the first month. That means nearly half of plaintiffs are experiencing acute financial pressure before a case has had any meaningful time to develop.
This pattern held steady compared to our 2024 survey, where 25% of respondents reported needing funding immediately and 17% within the first month.
The numbers haven’t improved. If anything, they reinforce a reality that attorneys who work closely with their clients already know: a plaintiff’s financial obligations continue to exist and can grow exponentially during a personal injury case.
So, what does this mean for you? The conversation about financial resources shouldn’t be an afterthought. For many clients, it needs to happen early, because their ability to stay focused on their case—rather than on how they’re going to pay rent—depends on it.
Cases Take Time. Clients Need to Know That.
Personal injury litigation is rarely quick, and many clients are unprepared for just how long the process can take.
In 2025, 42% of surveyed clients reported that their case took between one and three years to settle, and another 25% said it took more than three years. Only 9% resolved their matter in under six months. The 2024 data told a nearly identical story, with 50% of respondents reporting a one-to-three-year timeline and 26% reporting more than three years.
For clients navigating an unfamiliar and often confusing legal process, that kind of timeline creates real pressure to settle early, even when it means leaving money on the table. Pre-settlement funding exists precisely to address that tension. It gives clients the financial breathing room to stay in their case and pursue the outcome they deserve, rather than accepting a lowball offer out of necessity.
As an attorney, you’re already advocating for your client’s best outcome. Understanding the financial tools available to them is part of that process. USClaims can provide pre-approved funding on a monthly basis, for three months, six months, and sometimes longer, giving clients a structured way to stay financially stable for the long haul.
Awareness of Funding Remains a Gap
Despite strong satisfaction among clients who have used pre-settlement funding, many plaintiffs don’t know the option exists until their attorney tells them. When attorneys proactively make clients aware that this resource is available, it can make a meaningful difference in how those clients experience the legal process.
Pre-settlement funding is not a loan in the traditional sense. It’s nonrecourse, meaning your client owes nothing if their case doesn’t settle successfully. For clients who are already stretched thin, knowing that this option carries no financial risk can be genuinely reassuring.
Here are some key facts about pre-settlement funding you can pass along to your clients:
- Qualification is based on the merits of the case, not the client’s financial history or credit score.
- Repayment is only required if your client wins or settles their case.
- Funding could be available within 24 business-day hours of a fully executed agreement.*
- Your client can spend the funds on anything they need, from rent to groceries to medical bills.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves: Client Satisfaction Is High and Rising
Across both surveys, client satisfaction with pre-settlement funding has not only remained strong but grown year over year.
In 2024, 86% of respondents rated their experience with our pre-settlement funding a 5 out of 5. By 2025, that number climbed to 89%. These numbers reflect something real about the relief plaintiffs feel when they have financial support during legal proceedings.
The recommendation data reinforces that trust is growing. In 2024, 92% of surveyed clients said they would recommend litigation funding to others in a similar situation. In 2025, that figure rose to 96%. That kind of word-of-mouth confidence, sustained and growing across two years, speaks louder than any marketing claim we could make.
At USClaims, we cap what a client can ever owe at twice the amount advanced, regardless of how long it takes for the case to resolve.** We also use simple, non-compounded interest rates. For clients in a difficult situation who need a clear answer quickly, that predictability is the difference between staying in a case and walking away from a fair settlement.
What This Means for Attorneys
When you put all these findings together, a clear picture emerges: your clients are under financial pressure early, their cases take longer than expected, and when they have access to pre-settlement funding, that access becomes a turning point—one that brings not just financial relief, but a sense of confidence, stability, and satisfaction that carries them through to resolution.
As an attorney, being informed about pre-settlement funding puts you in a position to help your clients make sound decisions for themselves. You don’t need to recommend a specific provider, but knowing how it works and what client protections to look for is part of serving them well.
At USClaims, we’ve spent 30 years working alongside plaintiffs and their attorneys. We know when clients can stay in their case and pursue fair settlements without being buried in compounding fees or repayment obligations, everyone benefits. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to, and it’s why we remain committed to providing the most transparent, client-centered funding available.
Contact us to learn more about how we can support your clients while you fight for justice.
Funding subject to approval. We typically fund within 24 business-day hours after we receive a fully executed contract. Additional restrictions may apply. Call for details.
**2X CAP may not be applicable for all types of cases and/or jurisdictions.
