So why are insurance companies hiking the rates? There are two common issues. The first is the broken healthcare service. Whenever there’s a more serious traffic accident, most people go to hospital. The obvious injuries are treated. Bodies are examined to ensure there are no other injuries. Except, the moment anyone steps through the door of a hospital or clinic, the medical expenses meter starts to run. Despite the recession, the drugs industry and healthcare service suppliers have been increasing their prices. There have been some high-profile disputes between insurers and hospital groups in CA and CO. The current fight is between the Continuum Health Partners of New York and United Healthcare. The hospitals have agreed pay increases with the labor unions, new technology is expensive to instal and operate. They want more money. The insurer is looking for a reduction in charges of between 7 and 10%. It’s sad to admit but, in this fight, the insurers are actually protecting us policy holders.

The second problem is equally easy to explain. When we claim, the insurer should have the money to pay. This money comes from cash reserves and all the different state Insurance Departments monitor the amounts held to ensure there’s always sufficient set aside. It’s standard for insurers to hold this money on investment so, when the recession came, they were slow to move out of stocks and bonds, and all the larger insurers lost a slice of their capital. Commissioners are offering their local insurers a choice. Either reduce the number of people holding policies or add more to your cash reserves. This forces companies to raise premiums and so, sadly, it’s getting more difficult to find affordable auto insurance. Even with the use of this site’s excellent search engine, it’s difficult to find policies with lower rates. When you get the multiple auto insurance quotes, check through to find those with lower premiums. For good terms, look at the discounts available from these companies. Think about accepting a higher deductible. Using the auto insurance quotes as a starting point, negotiate directly with the insurers. Affordable policies are out there. You just have to work harder to find them.

You lost your job. Any money you had in savings is long gone. Creditors are constantly calling or sending nasty letters.

The writing is on the wall. The only way you are going to get through this rough patch is by filing bankruptcy. However, if you can’t even afford to put food on the table and to pay the monthly rent or mortgage, how the heck are you supposed to come up with the money needed to hire an attorney?

Free bankruptcy help may just be a phone call away. It is just a matter of knowing where to look.

Before we dig into these sources of free help, it is important to know that lawyers have a professional responsibility to provide legal services to clients who are unable to pay. In the legal profession, services provided for free are typically referred to as pro bono. The American Bar Association recommends that attorneys provide fifty hours of pro bono work each year.

With this fact in mind, one way to find free bankruptcy help is to simply ask. Explain your financial situation to your lawyer, and then ask if he or she would be willing to take on your case pro bono. If the answer is no, all is not lost! Your attorney should be able to provide you with names of other lawyers or organizations in your area that may help.

Both state and county bar associations are another resource for individuals looking for free bankruptcy help. You should be able to find the contact information for your state and county bar associations by looking in your local phone book or by searching online. Many have their own pro bono programs, as well as maintain lists of organizations in your area that provide assistance.

Unfortunately, you simply may not qualify for pro bono assistance. If you cannot find free bankruptcy help, you do have other options:

1. Payment plans – When you are looking to hire a bankruptcy lawyer, ask if they require a full fee retainer or if they will break down the fee into manageable monthly payments. Payment plans give you the opportunity to hire a bankruptcy lawyer without a large upfront payment.

2. Tax refunds – If you are anticipating a tax refund, you may be able to use all or a portion of it to retain a lawyer.

3. Borrow from a close friend or relative – You may not want to borrow money from friends and family members, but sometimes that is the only way out of debt. However, a close friend or relative may be willing to help you get your fresh start by lending you the money needed for the attorney’s fees.

In addition to the fees charged by your lawyer, you will also be required to pay a filing fee to the bankruptcy court, as well as additional costs for pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and pre-discharge debtor education classes. Depending on your financial situation, some or all of these fees may be waived.

Don’t let your finances prevent you from getting the legal relief you need to move forward with your life. Free bankruptcy help is available.