People have medical bills. People need the counsel of attorneys. You generally need a reliable car to get to work and a roof over your head. You can have huge mountains of debt and be forced to dig your way out by the skin of your teeth through no fault of your own.
Paying hundreds a month in credit card interest is not reserved for shopaholics.
However, had they been more frugal and put more effort into their savings prior to the event, they might not have needed to go into (as much) debt.
Attorneys aren't banks, it's not unreasonable for them to refuse to finance your counsel.
Seriously though, it is astonishing to me how many people are so entitled they just literally cannot understand why someone would have legitimate problems with money.
Not everyone is lucky enough to make a break out of poverty, nor is everyone born in middle class income or above. And yes, breaking out of poverty requires some luck in addition to hard work and determination.
Obviously they probably shouldn't have bought a bunch of things they didn't need, but hindsight's always 20/20.