What Dayton plaintiffs actually receive
Instabridge funds injured plaintiffs in Montgomery County (and across Ohio) at advance sizes from $500 up to $25,000, calibrated to a fraction of the conservative projected settlement rather than the optimistic one. Every advance is non-recourse: if your case loses or is dismissed, we absorb the loss. There is no credit check, no collections, and no impact on your credit report — either when you apply, while the advance is outstanding, or after your case resolves.
Pre-settlement funding is not a personal loan and not something you're personally on the hook for. Legally, it is a non-recourse purchase of an interest in your future recovery. It is currently regulated in Ohio under Ohio Revised Code § 1349.55; that section is expressly repealed effective October 6, 2026, and replaced by a new consumer-protection framework in R.C. Chapter 1357 (Ohio HB 105). The distinction matters: an Instabridge advance can never send you to collections, hurt your credit, or leave you owing money if the case doesn't recover.
How pre-settlement funding works in Dayton
The process is designed to be simple for the plaintiff and light on the attorney. Here is what actually happens from application to wire.
- 1You apply online
A short form: your contact info, the state where your case is filed, your attorney's name and firm, and a brief description of the incident. About five minutes. No credit information, no personal financial disclosure. Nothing is submitted to any credit bureau at any point.
- 2We contact your attorney
Usually the same business day. We request the case file — the crash or incident report, current medical records and bills, any pre-suit demand letter or the filed complaint, and a short case memo. Most attorneys can send everything in 15 to 30 minutes.
- 3Underwriting
An underwriter — not a call-center rep, not an algorithm alone — reviews the case for liability strength, damages evidence, and expected timeline. On a straightforward car-accident case, this takes a few hours. On more complex cases (trucking, medical malpractice, product liability), 24–48 hours.
- 4You review the offer
If approved, you receive a written offer showing the advance amount, the full multi-year cost schedule (every 6-month tier from 6 months to 4+ years), and all Ohio-required disclosures. You have time to review, ask questions, and compare offers before signing.
- 5Signing, attorney acknowledgment, and funding
Signing is electronic. Your attorney signs a one-page lien acknowledgment stating they will honor the funding lien from settlement proceeds — Ohio law requires this before we can fund. Funds are wired the same or next business day; ACH is also available.
Funding is a good fit when you have real bills or living expenses now, a case with clear liability and documented injuries, and a realistic multi-month or multi-year path to settlement. It is not a good fit if your case is expected to settle in the next 30–60 days (the fees accrue over time; waiting is cheaper) or if the advance would consume too large a share of the projected recovery. We tell applicants honestly when waiting makes more sense.
The step other funders skip: after underwriting, we run a settlement-protection check. If the advance you asked for would exceed 15% of the conservative projected settlement, we offer you a smaller amount rather than approve you at a level that could put your net recovery at risk. It's a check other funding companies frequently don't run.
Instabridge vs. other ways to bridge the wait
You have options when you need cash before your case settles. Here is an honest comparison of how pre-settlement funding from Instabridge compares to the alternatives Ohio plaintiffs commonly weigh.
| What matters | Instabridge | Personal loan | Credit card | Typical funder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You owe nothing if you lose | Yes Non-recourse under R.C. § 1349.55 | No Repayment required regardless | No Balance survives case outcome | Yes Generally non-recourse in Ohio |
| Credit check required | No Not pulled at any point | Yes Hard credit inquiry | Yes Hard credit inquiry | No Standard for the industry |
| Monthly payments while case pending | None Paid at settlement, from settlement | Required Missed payments hit credit | Required Minimums accrue interest | None Paid at settlement |
| Advance cap discipline | 8–15% of conservative case value Settlement-protective | Based on your credit Not tied to case value | Your credit limit Not tied to case value | Often 20–40% of projected value Overfunding risk |
| Full multi-year cost schedule in writing | Yes — every 6-month tier to 4+ yrs In every contract | APR + payment schedule Standard disclosure | APR only Assumes revolving use | Varies Often only 6- or 12-month math |
| Right to cancel after signing | 5 days now / 10 business days from 10/6/2026 R.C. § 1349.55 → R.C. § 1357.03 (HB 105) | Varies by lender Not statutorily required | N/A Not a fixed advance | 5 days now / 10 business days from 10/6/2026 Same Ohio statutory floor |
| Impact on credit report | None Never reported | Balance + payment history reported Missed payments hurt | Balance + payment history reported Utilization ratio impact | None Standard for the industry |
| Attorney acknowledgment required | Yes Ohio law requires it | No Personal debt | No Personal debt | Yes Ohio law requires it |
Comparison is intended for orientation, not legal advice. Individual products from any category vary; specific terms should be evaluated against your own case, timeline, and financial picture with your attorney.
The Montgomery County injury case timeline
Ohio Supreme Court time standards call for general civil cases to reach disposition within 24 months of judge assignment (a threshold revised effective January 1, 2026 under Sup.R. 39). Montgomery County's Rule 6.01 adopts a civil case management plan under Sup.R. 5 to keep cases moving toward that standard. Here's what the timeline actually looks like in Montgomery County — and where pre-settlement funding fits.
- 1Month 0
Complaint e-filed and randomly assigned
Under Montgomery County Rule 2.01(A), all documents must be filed through the court's e-File system, and every attorney must register with it. Under Appendix A (Civil Filing Fees), the security deposit for a non-foreclosure civil complaint is $325.00, plus a non-refundable convenience fee for card or e-check payments ($9.75 on a civil complaint, per the Clerk). Under Rules 5.01 and 5.02, the case is randomly assigned by lot to a single Assigned Judge the moment the complaint is filed. Plaintiffs who cannot afford the deposit may file a Financial Disclosure/Fee Waiver Affidavit (Rule 3.04).
Where funding fits: Fundable — but only if the case has real evidence attached (medicals + liability facts). Suit-filed cases underwrite faster than pre-suit demands. - 2After the answer
Initial scheduling/pretrial conference (Rule 6.02(B))
In any case where an answer is timely filed, the court holds an initial scheduling/pretrial conference call to set all filing and discovery deadlines under Civ.R. 16. Attorneys must consult with their clients beforehand and be prepared to confer on settlement and discovery. After considering any Civ.R. 26(F) report, the court issues a Final Pretrial Order.
Where funding fits: This is the moment your timeline becomes concrete — a useful data point for right-sizing an advance. - 3Middle of the case
Discovery
Written discovery, depositions, records exchange, and expert disclosures under the Final Pretrial Order. Under Rule 6.04, discovery disputes must go through diligent informal efforts before a motion, and routine discovery documents are not filed with the court. Cases with contested liability, catastrophic damages, or multiple defendants spend the most time here.
Where funding fits: The single longest phase for most cases. Follow-up advances are common as bills continue and living expenses mount. - 4After the pretrial conference
Court-referred mediation (Rules 7.01–7.09)
After the pretrial scheduling conference, a case may be referred to mediation on a party's motion, by agreement, or at the Assigned Judge's discretion. The court's mediation staff schedules an initial mediation scheduling conference, the parties may choose a mediator from the court-approved list (or one is assigned on rotation), and the court issues an order setting all mediation deadlines. Each side submits a mediation conference statement of no more than three pages directly to the mediator at least 10 days before the conference; it is not filed with the court. Mediation is governed by the Ohio Uniform Mediation Act (R.C. 2710.01 et seq.).
Where funding fits: Many injury cases resolve through negotiation or mediation. When yours does, your attorney requests a payoff from us and satisfies our lien from the settlement proceeds. - 5Late in the case
Final pretrial statement conference and trial
Under Rule 6.05, all parties file a joint final pretrial statement at least two business days before the final pretrial conference, covering witnesses, experts, exhibits, special damages, and the status of settlement negotiations. Parties and counsel are required to attend the final pretrial conference; failing to appear can lead to dismissal, monetary sanctions, or default judgment.
Where funding fits: The full multi-year cost schedule in your Instabridge contract covers the 24-, 30-, 36-, and 48+ month tiers. Nothing you owe at settlement is a surprise. - 6Post-trial
Possible appeal — Second District
Appeals from the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas go to the Second District Court of Appeals, whose administrative office and courtroom are at 41 N. Perry Street, Fifth Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422. The Second District covers Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties and has five judges. A notice of appeal must generally be filed within 30 days of the final judgment (App.R. 4(A)); in Montgomery County the notice of appeal fee is $100, and the Second District's Local Rule 2.1 requires notices of appeal to be filed electronically.
Where funding fits: Appeals extend the fee accrual — but never uncapped. Your contract shows the ceiling.
Sources: Local Rules of Practice of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division (rules PDF updated 9/28/2026, eff. 9/23/2026), Rules 2.01, 3.01–3.04, 5.01, 5.02, 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.05, 7.01–7.09 and Appendix A; Montgomery County Clerk of Courts; Second District Court of Appeals; Supreme Court of Ohio; Sup.R. 39 (amended effective 1/1/2026).
Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas — how Dayton injury cases actually move
If you have filed a personal-injury lawsuit in Dayton, the case is most likely in the General Division of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. The General Division hears civil cases in which the amount in controversy is more than $15,000. The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts' Legal Division is at 41 N. Perry Street, Room 106, Dayton, OH 45422. Understanding how the court actually operates helps you plan realistically — including whether pre-settlement funding makes sense for your specific timeline.
Where cases are filed
Filing in the General Division is electronic. Under Rule 2.01(A)(1), unless the rule says otherwise, all documents filed with the Clerk must be submitted through the e-File System, and under Rule 2.01(A)(3) all attorneys must register with it. Pro se parties may file on paper. The Clerk's e-filing portal is efiling.mcohio.org. The Clerk of Courts' Legal Division is at 41 N. Perry Street, Room 106, Dayton, OH 45422, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the Clerk's Civil Department can be reached at (937) 496-7220.
Source: Montgomery County Common Pleas Local Rule 2.01 (eff. 9/23/2026 rules PDF); Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — eFiling page (montgomerycountyclerkoh.gov/ClerkOfCourts/eFiling.cshtml) and Contact page.
Filing fees and deposits (Appendix A)
Under Rule 3.02, no civil action is accepted for filing without the security deposit set in Appendix A. Appendix A (Civil Filing Fees) sets the deposit for other civil complaints at $325.00 and for foreclosure complaints at $525.00. Under Rule 3.03, a non-refundable convenience fee is added for payments by e-check, credit card, or debit card; the Clerk lists the total for a non-foreclosure civil complaint as $334.75 ($325 filing fee + $9.75 convenience fee). The Second District notice of appeal fee is $100.00. Under Rule 3.04, a plaintiff who cannot pay may file a Financial Disclosure/Fee Waiver Affidavit with the complaint; the Clerk accepts the filing and the court reviews the affidavit under R.C. 2323.311. If the waiver is denied, the court gives the applicant 30 days to pay.
Source: Montgomery County Common Pleas Rules 3.01–3.04 and Appendix A — Civil Filing Fees; Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — Filing Costs & Fees page (montgomerycountyclerkoh.gov/FilingCostsFees.cshtml).
The initial scheduling/pretrial conference (Rule 6.02)
Montgomery County Rule 6.01 establishes a civil case management plan under Sup.R. 5. Under Rule 6.02(A), the court monitors every civil case for service and answers, and parties who fail to reissue service or move for default within 14 days of a notice risk dismissal for failure to prosecute. Under Rule 6.02(B), in any case where an answer is timely filed, the court holds an initial scheduling/pretrial conference call to establish all filing and discovery deadlines under Civ.R. 16. Attorneys must consult with their clients before the conference and be prepared to confer 'practically and earnestly' on settlement and discovery. After considering any Civ.R. 26(F) report, the court issues a Final Pretrial Order. If no jury demand was made, the Assigned Judge may refer the case to a magistrate.
Source: Montgomery County Common Pleas Rules 6.01 and 6.02(A)–(B), verified verbatim against the 9/23/2026 rules PDF.
Court-referred mediation (Rules 7.01–7.09)
Montgomery County runs a court-sponsored civil case mediation program. Under Rule 7.02, any civil case may be referred for mediation unless prohibited by law, and the Assigned Judge continues to manage the case throughout. Under Rule 7.03, after the pretrial scheduling conference a case may be referred on a party's motion, by agreement of the parties, or at the Assigned Judge's discretion. The court's mediation staff holds an initial mediation scheduling conference; the parties are encouraged to pick a mediator from the court-approved list at montcourt.oh.gov/mediation, and if they don't agree, one is assigned on a rotating basis. Under Rule 7.05, each party submits a mediation conference statement of no more than three pages to the mediator at least 10 days before the conference, and those statements are not filed. Under Rule 7.06(A), anyone whose presence is needed to supply settlement authority, counsel for all parties, and an insurance adjuster must attend. Under Rule 7.08(B), a mediation cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice carries a $400 (half-day) or $800 (full-day) cancellation fee. Confidentiality and privilege are governed by the Ohio Uniform Mediation Act (Rule 7.01(C)).
Source: Montgomery County Common Pleas Rules 7.01–7.09, verified verbatim against the 9/23/2026 rules PDF. Ohio Uniform Mediation Act, R.C. 2710.01 et seq.
How long civil cases actually take in Montgomery County
The Ohio Supreme Court publishes time-to-disposition standards for common pleas courts under Sup.R. 39. For general civil cases (which includes most personal-injury litigation), the standard was 100% of cases disposed within 24 months of judge assignment; effective January 1, 2026, the amended standard shifted to a 95% target. Montgomery County's Rule 6.01 adopts a civil case management plan under Sup.R. 5 to maintain and improve timely disposition. The Clerk publishes case statistics, but there is no single consolidated annual time-to-disposition report for the General Division; the Supreme Court aggregates county caseload data in eStats. What that means practically for a plaintiff: most Montgomery County injury cases reach disposition — settlement, dismissal, or trial — within about two years of judge assignment. Complex cases can take longer.
Source: Ohio Supreme Court Sup.R. 39 (amended time standards effective 1/1/2026); Montgomery County Common Pleas Rule 6.01; supremecourt.ohio.gov eStats.
The Second District Court of Appeals
Appeals from the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas go to the Second District Court of Appeals. The court's administrative office and main courtroom are at 41 N. Perry Street, Fifth Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422 (mailing address P.O. Box 972, Dayton, Ohio 45422), and it can be reached at (937) 225-4464. The Second District covers six counties — Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery — and the Supreme Court of Ohio lists five judges on the court. All oral arguments are recorded under App.R. 21(J). A notice of appeal must generally be filed within 30 days of the final judgment under App.R. 4(A). Appeals add time to any case — typically many months — and while an appeal is pending, our funding continues to accrue at the rate set in the contract. Your multi-year cost schedule shows exactly what that looks like.
Source: Second District Court of Appeals — Contact the Court and FAQ pages (seconddistrictcoa.org); Supreme Court of Ohio — Ohio Courts of Appeals directory; Ohio App.R. 4(A). Verified Oct 2026.
Ohio statutes at a glance
The six Ohio statutes that most directly affect an Ohio injury case — with what each one does and why it matters for your recovery.
Bodily-injury statute of limitations
2 years from date of injury (discovery rule applies to latent/toxic exposure).
Miss it and the case dies, regardless of merit.
Medical malpractice
1 year from discovery, extendable +180 days by written notice; 4-year statute of repose.
Ohio's tightest injury deadline. Delay is fatal.
Comparative negligence
Recover if your fault ≤ 50%; damages reduced by your fault share.
Single biggest driver of settlement value in contested-liability cases.
Non-economic damages cap
$250K or 3× economic damages, up to $350K/plaintiff or $500K/occurrence. Cap lifted for catastrophic injuries.
Limits pain-and-suffering. Economic damages (medical + wage loss) are NOT capped.
Pre-settlement funding (Ohio)
Non-recourse, plain-language disclosures, attorney acknowledgment. § 1349.55 (5-day cancellation) is expressly repealed effective 10/6/2026 and replaced by new Chapter 1357 (10-business-day cancellation) under HB 105.
This is what makes funding legal — and safe — in Ohio.
Political-subdivision immunity
Cases against a city, county, or agency have different immunity + notice rules.
Sidewalks, city vehicles, county property — timing and gates are different.
Ohio law every plaintiff should understand
Six statutes materially affect an Ohio injury case. Understanding them helps you evaluate settlement offers, avoid deadline traps, and understand what your case is actually worth.
Statute of limitations for bodily injury — R.C. § 2305.10
In Ohio, a claim for bodily injury generally must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. For most physical injuries, this means two years from the date of the accident or event. Certain latent-injury and toxic-exposure cases follow a discovery rule — the clock starts when a competent medical authority informs the plaintiff of the injury or when the plaintiff should have known through reasonable diligence. Missing the statute of limitations is fatal to a case, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)
Medical malpractice — R.C. § 2305.113
Under R.C. § 2305.113(A), a medical malpractice claim must be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues. The plaintiff can extend the one-year period by an additional 180 days by serving a written notice of intent to sue on the potential defendant by certified mail, return receipt requested, before the initial year expires. Section (C) imposes an absolute four-year statute of repose measured from the act or omission. Section (D) provides limited discovery-rule exceptions: (1) if the injury could not have been discovered within three years but is discovered before the four-year repose period expires, the plaintiff may file within one year of discovery; and (2) foreign-object cases (an object left in the body) may be filed within one year of discovery. Med-mal deadlines are the tightest of any Ohio injury case; if you suspect medical malpractice, do not delay in consulting with an attorney.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.113(A), (B), (C), (D) — verified against codes.ohio.gov (authenticated version effective 10/3/2023, HB 33 – 135th G.A.).
Comparative negligence — R.C. § 2315.33
Under R.C. § 2315.33, a plaintiff's contributory fault does not bar recovery if that fault is not greater than the combined tortious conduct of all other persons — including persons the plaintiff sues in the action AND persons the plaintiff does not sue. If the plaintiff's fault exceeds that combined figure, the plaintiff recovers nothing. If the plaintiff's fault is 50% or less of the total, damages are recoverable but reduced proportionately by the plaintiff's percentage of fault, as determined under R.C. § 2315.34. Comparative-negligence exposure is one of the biggest single drivers of settlement value in cases where liability is contested (motorcycle-vs-car left-turn cases, disputed lane-change collisions, slip-and-fall cases with visible hazards, etc.).
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33 (SB 80, 125th G.A., effective 4/7/2005) — verified against codes.ohio.gov; damages-reduction mechanism at § 2315.34.
Non-economic damages cap — R.C. § 2315.18
Ohio caps non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, mental anguish) in most tort actions. Under R.C. § 2315.18(B)(2), the cap is the greater of $250,000 or three times economic loss, up to a ceiling of $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per single occurrence. Economic damages — past and future medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket loss — are not capped. Section (B)(3) removes the cap where the plaintiff has sustained (a) permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ system; or (b) a permanent physical functional injury that permanently prevents the injured person from being able to independently care for self and perform life-sustaining activities. Ohio courts have generally held that stand-alone emotional and mental injuries do not qualify for the exception, though outcomes turn on specific facts and expert testimony. Under § 2315.18(F)(2), the court does not instruct the jury on the cap and counsel may not inform the jury of it; the cap is applied by the court after verdict.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.18(B)(2), (B)(3), (F)(2) — verified against codes.ohio.gov (authenticated version effective 4/15/2021, HB 352 – 133rd G.A.). Cap-application procedure discussed in Simpkins v. Grace Brethren Church, 149 Ohio St.3d 307 (2016).
Pre-settlement funding — R.C. § 1349.55 (current) and R.C. § 1357.03 (effective 10/6/2026 under HB 105)
Ohio's Supreme Court in Rancman v. Interim Settlement Funding Corp. (2003) initially held that non-recourse litigation advances were void as champerty and maintenance, but the Court expressly noted the Legislature could authorize them. The General Assembly did so by enacting R.C. § 1349.55, which requires funding contracts to be non-recourse, include specified plain-language disclosures, provide a five-business-day right of cancellation, and be acknowledged in writing by the consumer's attorney. R.C. § 1349.55 is expressly repealed effective October 6, 2026, and is replaced by a new consumer-protection framework in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1357 (added by Ohio HB 105, 136th G.A.). Under new R.C. § 1357.03(A)(4), consumers gain an extended right to cancel — ten business days after the funding date — by returning the full amount of disbursed funds via uncashed check delivered in person or mailed with a postmark within ten business days. Section 1357.03(A)(6) adds more specific attorney acknowledgment requirements, and § 1357.03(B) makes violations an unfair or deceptive act under R.C. § 1345.02. Instabridge complies fully with § 1349.55 today and is prepared to comply with Chapter 1357 on the effective date.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.55 (HB 248, 127th G.A., effective 8/27/2008; expressly repealed effective 10/6/2026 per header at codes.ohio.gov) and § 1357.03 (HB 105, 136th G.A., effective 10/6/2026, authenticated PDF at codes.ohio.gov). Rancman v. Interim Settlement Funding Corp., 99 Ohio St.3d 121, 2003-Ohio-2721.
Political-subdivision notice — R.C. Chapter 2744
If your case is against a political subdivision — a city, county, or agency — Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 2744 governs the claim, and different immunity rules and notice requirements apply. These cases have more procedural gates than standard private-party PI cases. If your case involves a governmental defendant, your attorney will need to comply with the specific requirements of Chapter 2744 — do not delay retaining counsel.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 2744
The Dayton cases we fund
Instabridge funds the same range of injury cases in Dayton that we fund elsewhere in Ohio. Below is a brief description of each with links to our dedicated guides. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts.
Rear-end, left-turn, lane-change, and intersection collisions on Dayton's arterial roads and the highways that meet in Montgomery County (I-70, I-75, I-675, and US-35).
Cases involving semis, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles on the I-70 and I-75 freight corridors, which cross just north of Dayton. These cases carry federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations liability layers and can involve higher coverage stacks — and longer timelines — than passenger-vehicle cases.
Rider injury cases are governed by the same two-year statute (§ 2305.10) as any bodily-injury claim. Ohio law does not require adult riders to wear a helmet under § 4511.53, and helmet-use arguments cannot bar recovery — but comparative-negligence disputes are more common in rider cases than in car cases, which matters for underwriting.
Grocery-store, retail, apartment, and property-owner cases. Ohio's 'open and obvious' doctrine, the natural-accumulation rule for winter cases, and the political-subdivision notice requirements for city-owned property (§ 2744) all affect these cases.
Ohio is a monopolistic workers' compensation state — BWC is the exclusive employer carrier under § 4123.74. Third-party work-injury cases (against a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner) proceed as separate personal-injury lawsuits alongside the BWC claim. BWC's subrogation lien attaches to any third-party recovery; we underwrite around it.
Med-mal cases against physicians, hospitals, and health systems. These cases run under the tightest statute of limitations (§ 2305.113, one year) and require an affidavit of merit under Civ.R. 10(D)(2). Case timelines routinely reach 24–36 months.
Instabridge funds plaintiffs across Montgomery County and the Miami Valley
We fund plaintiffs from communities throughout Montgomery County — Dayton proper, Kettering, Huber Heights, Centerville, Miamisburg, Vandalia, Trotwood, Riverside, West Carrollton, Englewood, Clayton, Moraine, Oakwood, Germantown, Washington Township, Harrison Township, and neighboring areas. Venue for a lawsuit depends on where the incident occurred, where the defendant resides or does business, and other factors under the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. Many Dayton-area injury cases are filed in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, but not all — for example, an accident in Beavercreek or Fairborn (Greene County) or in Miami, Warren, or Butler County may be filed there instead. Your attorney will make the venue determination for your case.
Our funding process, pricing, and Ohio-required disclosures under R.C. § 1349.55 (and R.C. § 1357.03 beginning October 6, 2026) are the same regardless of which Ohio community you live in.
What makes Instabridge different for Dayton plaintiffs
Attorney-founded
Adam Gurney, a practicing attorney, founded Instabridge after observing how the pre-settlement funding industry actually operated from the plaintiff-attorney side of the table. That perspective drives how we underwrite (case merits, not credit models), how we structure advance amounts (settlement-protective caps, not maximum-fee optimization), and how we write our contracts (plain language and full disclosure, not fine print).
About the founderSettlement-protective advance caps
We cap advances at 8–15% of the conservative projected settlement, not the optimistic one. Overfunding is the biggest ethical problem in this industry: a plaintiff who accepts a 30–40% advance can find themselves at settlement owing more than the case pays out. Our cap is deliberate, and we would rather turn away a case than overfund it.
See how we underwriteFull multi-year cost schedule in every contract
Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.55 requires certain disclosures. We go further: every Instabridge contract includes a complete cost table showing what you owe if the case settles at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48+ months. No surprises later. You can also model any scenario before you apply, using our public funding-cost calculator.
Run the funding-cost calculatorQuestions Dayton plaintiffs actually ask.
How long do injury cases actually take in Montgomery County?
Under Ohio Supreme Court Sup.R. 39 (amended effective January 1, 2026), the time-to-disposition target for general civil cases in Ohio common pleas courts is 95% within 24 months of judge assignment. Montgomery County's Rule 6.01 adopts a civil case management plan under Sup.R. 5 to keep cases on that track. Practically, most Montgomery County injury cases reach disposition within about two years of judge assignment; complex cases can take longer. For pre-settlement funding, this matters because the fee accrues over time — a case that resolves in 12 months carries a much smaller total cost than one that resolves at 36 months.
Do I need a Dayton attorney, or can I hire one from anywhere in Ohio?
Any attorney licensed to practice in Ohio can represent you in a Montgomery County case. There is no Dayton-specific admission requirement, though every attorney must register with the court's e-File System under Rule 2.01(A)(3). Familiarity with Montgomery County's scheduling-conference practice under Rule 6.02 and its mediation program under Rules 7.01–7.09 is a legitimate advantage. Your attorney's location matters less than their experience with cases like yours.
How does mediation work in Montgomery County?
After the pretrial scheduling conference, a case can be referred to mediation by motion, by agreement, or by the judge (Rule 7.03(A)). The court's mediation staff schedules a conference to pick a mediator — the parties can choose from the court-approved list, or one is assigned on rotation (Rule 7.03(B)–(C)). Each side sends the mediator a confidential statement of up to three pages at least 10 days ahead (Rule 7.05). People with settlement authority, all counsel, and an insurance adjuster must attend (Rule 7.06(A)). Cancelling with less than 48 hours' notice costs $400 for a half-day or $800 for a full-day session (Rule 7.08(B)).
My Dayton case is going to mediation — how does that affect my funding?
Montgomery County mediation is governed by the Ohio Uniform Mediation Act (Rule 7.01(B)–(C); R.C. 2710.01 et seq.), which makes mediation communications privileged and confidential. Our funding agreement is between you and Instabridge; the mediator, the defense, and the court do not need to be informed of the advance. If your case settles at mediation, your attorney simply requests a payoff figure from us and satisfies the lien from the settlement proceeds.
What happens if my Dayton case gets appealed to the Second District?
Appeals from Montgomery County Common Pleas go to the Second District Court of Appeals at 41 N. Perry Street in Dayton, which covers Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties. A notice of appeal is generally due within 30 days of the final judgment and must be filed electronically. Appeals add time — typically many months. During an appeal, your case is not resolved, so the funding fee continues to accrue at whatever rate your contract specifies. Our contracts do not have hidden 'appeal surcharges'; the fee accrual is transparent from day one on the multi-year cost schedule in your contract.
Is pre-settlement funding legal in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.55 establishes the consumer-protection framework for pre-settlement funding contracts. The statute requires that funding be non-recourse, that specific disclosures be provided, that consumers have a five-day right of cancellation, and that the funding contract be acknowledged in writing by the consumer's attorney. Ohio HB 105, effective October 6, 2026, adds Chapter 1357 to the Ohio Revised Code, extending the cancellation window to ten business days and requiring funding companies to register with the Ohio Attorney General. Ohio's Supreme Court initially struck down these contracts as champerty and maintenance in Rancman v. Interim Settlement Funding Corp. (2003), and the Legislature then authorized them by enacting § 1349.55.
What's the statute of limitations for an injury case in Ohio?
Generally two years from the date of injury, under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A). Medical malpractice claims run under a shorter one-year statute (§ 2305.113(A)), extendable by 180 days with a written notice of intent to sue. Property-damage claims run under a four-year statute (§ 2305.09). Cases against a political subdivision (a city, county, or agency) have additional notice and timing requirements under Chapter 2744. Missing the applicable statute of limitations is fatal to the case, so this is one of the first things any Ohio personal-injury attorney will verify.
Will Ohio's comparative-negligence rule hurt my recovery if I was partly at fault?
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33, you can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Damages are reduced by your fault percentage — so if you're found 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you recover $80,000. If your fault percentage exceeds the combined fault of all defendants from whom you seek recovery, you recover nothing (the 51% bar). Comparative-fault exposure is one of the most important factors in evaluating cases where liability is contested; it also affects how we size an advance.
How does the non-economic damages cap in Ohio affect my case?
Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.18 caps non-economic damages (pain, suffering, mental anguish) at the greater of $250,000 or three times your economic damages, with an overall ceiling of $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per single occurrence. Economic damages — past and future medical bills, lost income, out-of-pocket costs — are not capped. The cap does not apply if you've sustained permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, loss of a bodily organ system, or a permanent physical functional injury preventing independent self-care. For a plaintiff with heavy documented medical bills, the cap has less effect than many people assume; for pain-and-suffering-heavy cases with limited economic damages, it can be significant. Juries are not informed of the cap.
Do I need to tell my attorney about the funding?
Yes. Ohio law under § 1349.55 (and § 1357.03 beginning October 6, 2026) requires your attorney to acknowledge the funding contract in writing before the funding company can advance the funds. Beyond the legal requirement, telling your attorney is practically essential: at settlement, your attorney satisfies the funding lien from the settlement proceeds through their trust account. They cannot do that if they don't know the lien exists. A reputable Ohio funding company will not fund without attorney acknowledgment.
Can I get funding on a workplace injury case if I already have a BWC claim?
Yes, if there is a third-party lawsuit or clear demand alongside your BWC claim. Ohio's BWC (Bureau of Workers' Compensation) is the exclusive workers' compensation carrier under R.C. § 4123.74, but it does not preclude a separate lawsuit against a non-employer third party (a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, driver of another vehicle, or non-employer property owner). BWC's subrogation lien attaches to any third-party settlement — we account for the estimated lien when sizing your advance so your net recovery is protected.