When you are involved in a lawsuit, financial pressures can quickly become overwhelming. Medical bills, living expenses, and other costs do not pause just because you are waiting for a settlement. South Dakota pre-settlement legal funding is a financial service that provides plaintiffs with cash advances against the potential future settlement of their lawsuit.
Is Pre-Settlement Funding Considered a Loan?
No, pre-settlement funding is not a loan. While we occasionally use the term “lawsuit loan”—since it’s a common search phrase—what we offer is technically different.
Pre-settlement funding is a non-recourse cash advance provided in exchange for a portion of your potential future settlement. Unlike a traditional loan, you are not required to repay the advance if you lose your case. In essence, we assume the risk. You receive funds upfront, and if your case is successful, we collect an agreed-upon share of your settlement.
How Pre-Settlement Funding in South Dakota Works
The process begins with a simple application, which you can submit at any time during your case. Our team collaborates with your attorney to review the details of your lawsuit, assessing its potential value and merits. This helps us determine the appropriate amount of funding. Once you agree to the terms, the funds are quickly disbursed to you, often within 24 hours.
There are no restrictions on how you use the money. Whether it is for hospital bills, rent, legal fees, or any other financial obligations, the funds are entirely at your discretion.
Cities We Serve in South Dakota
Mustang Funding proudly provides pre-settlement funding to plaintiffs across the state of South Dakota. Whether you live in a larger city, a small town, or a rural community, we’re here to help you access fast, non-recourse legal funding while your personal injury case is pending. We serve clients in:
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Watertown
- Mitchell
- Yankton
- Huron
- Pierre
- Spearfish
- Vermillion
- Box Elder
- Brandon
- Sturgis
- Madison
If your city isn’t listed, don’t worry, we provide pre-settlement funding statewide in South Dakota. No matter where you are, our team will coordinate directly with your attorney to evaluate your case and provide the financial support you need, often within 24 to 48 hours of approval.
How Legal Funding in South Dakota Compares to Other States
Lawsuits in South Dakota can take a long time to resolve. Delays in negotiations, discovery, and court calendars can leave plaintiffs waiting indefinitely while financial pressure continues to build. Legal funding can offer a safety net while you wait for your case to settle.
Like any state without a codified statute on legal funding, South Dakota relies on general contract law to govern how legal funding agreements are drafted and enforced.
What Makes Pre-Settlement Funding in South Dakota Unique
Because legal funding in South Dakota is shaped primarily by the terms of the individual agreement, a well-structured contract is especially important. For plaintiffs, this means understanding what a sound legal funding agreement should include before accepting funding.
Here’s what that looks like in practical terms for someone waiting on a settlement in South Dakota:
- Clear, plain-language terms.
A strong legal funding contract should clearly explain the amount of funding provided, how repayment works if the case is successful, and confirm that no repayment is required if there is no recovery.
- Non-recourse protection spelled out.
The agreement should explicitly state that the funding is non-recourse, meaning repayment comes only from the proceeds of the case—not from your personal assets or income.
- Attorney involvement and acknowledgment.
Your attorney should be aware of the funding arrangement and able to confirm key case details, helping ensure the agreement aligns with the status and expected value of your claim.
- No control over your case.
A proper funding agreement should make clear that the funding provider does not influence your legal strategy, settlement decisions, or attorney’s professional judgment.
- Transparency around costs and expectations.
The contract should outline how amounts owed may change over time if the case remains unresolved, so there are no surprises if and when the case concludes.
Together, these elements help ensure that legal funding agreements in South Dakota are fair, transparent, and centered on the plaintiff’s needs while a case is pending.
How South Dakota Is Similar to Most Other States
With or without a dedicated funding statute, the fundamentals of legal funding remain consistent throughout most of the country:
- Your attorney plays a key role in confirming case details and expected outcomes
- Funding decisions focus on the case itself, including liability, damages, and potential recovery
- No ongoing or out-of-pocket payments are required while the case is pending
- Repayment is tied to the outcome of the case, not to your personal finances
Eligibility & Underwriting for South Dakota Legal Funding
Legal funding companies in SD balance their risk assessment by analyzing the merits of your claim rather than your credit score, income, or employment status.
What Litigation Funding Companies Look For
When reviewing South Dakota claims, funding providers generally consider:
- Whether you are the plaintiff in a pending lawsuit
- Whether you are represented by legal counsel
- The likelihood that you will be awarded compensation
- Whether the defendant has insurance coverage or has the ability to pay
- Whether the expected recovery can support funding after legal costs and liens are deducted
South Dakota–Specific Considerations You Should Know About
In South Dakota, funding decisions are guided by how clearly the case details are documented and how straightforward the funding agreement is.
- Attorney involvement and case details.
Your attorney helps confirm important information about your case, including liability, damages, and where the case stands in the legal process.
- Clear explanation of how repayment works.
The funding agreement should plainly explain that repayment is only required if your case results in compensation.
- Straightforward, enforceable agreement terms.
The agreement should clearly spell out expectations on both sides, so there are no surprises about how the funding works as your case moves forward.
Common Types of Lawsuits That May Qualify for Legal Funding in South Dakota
Legal funding is available in South Dakota for various types of civil cases. In South Dakota, applications are most commonly submitted in connection with lawsuits involving personal injury, negligence, or substantial financial loss.
Case Types That Commonly Qualify
Many South Dakota plaintiffs seek legal funding for:
- Passenger vehicle collisions
- Trucking accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian injuries
- Slip and fall or trip and fall claims
- Dog bite and animal attack cases
More Complex Claims
Funding may also be available for more serious cases, including:
- Claims involving permanent disability, surgery, or long-term medical treatment
- Wrongful death actions
- Medical negligence or malpractice claims
- Product liability cases
- Mass torts
Other Civil Claims That May Be Eligible
Depending on the circumstances, funding may also be considered for:
- Workplace discrimination or wrongful termination claims
- Unpaid wages, overtime, or compensation disputes
- Injury claims involving third parties outside of workers’ compensation
- Civil rights matters involving serious or life-altering harm
What Makes a Case More Likely to Qualify for Legal Funding in South Dakota?
Across South Dakota case types, approval is stronger when there is:
- Liability is well-documented through reports, witness statements, or admissions
- Medical treatment clearly connects the injury to the incident
- There is identifiable insurance coverage or a defendant capable of paying a judgment
- The case is moving forward on a reasonable and predictable timeline
Learn More About Lawsuit Loans in South Dakota
Our services are designed to provide quick, transparent, and fair assistance during challenging times. We serve clients throughout South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, and Watertown. To view the states where pre-settlement funding is available and explore how our services can support you nationwide, visit our website or contact us directly.
With Mustang Funding, there are no hidden fees, no obligations, and nothing to lose. Financial relief is within reach. Apply for pre-settlement legal funding in South Dakota today to discover how pre-settlement funding can help you.
