The short answer
At Cherokee, you need an open personal injury case and an attorney representing you before applying. We review the claim with your attorney and confirm availability in your state before making an offer.
Start with representation and an open case
Before you think about a funding amount, check the starting requirements. Cherokee reviews personal injury cases with the attorney handling the claim. A car accident or slip and fall may be a starting point for a review, but the case type alone does not establish eligibility.
If you do not have an attorney, arrange representation first. A state or local bar association lawyer-referral service can help you look. Cherokee does not recommend or select a particular attorney.
What a case review is meant to establish
Gain's eligibility guide describes the questions funders commonly ask about responsibility for an accident, injury records, insurance and existing obligations. Your attorney is the right person to explain what those issues mean for your case.
For Cherokee, the amount available depends on the strength of the claim. We confirm the case with your attorney before making a written offer. Neither an online estimate nor an application tells you what amount will be approved.
Check availability before planning around an advance
Funding is not offered in every state. Use Cherokee's current availability list, and call if you are unsure how it applies to you. Selecting a state in the application does not establish eligibility.
Product treatment also matters. In South Carolina, Cherokee offers a supervised consumer loan. In other states, review the applicable product disclosures and the agreement rather than assuming the terms are identical.
Prepare for the first conversation
Have your attorney's contact information and basic case details ready. Tell the team whether you already have funding on the same case, and explain the amount you need. Ask what information is still missing before the review can proceed.
There is no fee to submit the website application. If an offer follows, review the funded amount, charges and payoff terms with your attorney. Applying is a request for review, not a promise of approval.
What to have ready
- The name and contact details of the attorney handling your personal injury case.
- Your state and basic information about the claim.
- The amount you need and any deadline for the expense.
- Details of any existing funding on the same case.
Common questions
Does a car accident automatically qualify?
No. A case type is only a starting point. Cherokee reviews the actual claim with your attorney and checks availability before making an offer.
Can I apply if my attorney has not confirmed the case yet?
You must have representation before applying. Cherokee then contacts your attorney as part of the review. Funding is not completed until the required confirmation and acknowledgment are in place.
Is there a fee for the website application?
There is no fee to submit the website application. If approved, the written offer and agreement state the funded amount, charges and payoff terms. Applying does not guarantee approval.
