The “ambulance chaser” is a term for a greedy lawyer who targets victims who have just been hurt in an accident. The practice of seeking clients this way is actually illegal in California.
Victims injured in accidents must be cautious of lawyers who contact them in the hospital or as soon as they get home.
An “ambulance chaser” will often take on a personal injury case when the client doesn’t need a lawyer, simply for a share in the insurance settlement money the victim receives. Trusted, ethical lawyers consult with victims only after being contacted. They don’t accept a case unless they feel they can significantly increase the amount of compensation the victim and the victim’s family receive.
Ambulance Chaser Dangers in California
Ambulance chaser has long been a negative stereotype applied to some lawyers. And some deceitful lawyers truly deserve the nickname. It brings to mind the image of a lawyer, desperate for clients, who chases down ambulances after an accident. The lawyer hopes to be the first attorney to speak with an injured victim and take advantage of the victim’s vulnerability to gain a client.
The injured party can be convinced to hire a law firm without before they know if they need an attorney’s help. It’s a practice that’s considered unethical by the American Bar Association (ABA).
The ABA’s Code of Ethics doesn’t allow lawyers to seek clients simply for monetary gain. The code also prohibits lawyers from gaining clients through “…coercion, duress or harassment.”
The use of ambulance chasing to gain clients is also known by the legal term “barrantry.” California has made barrantry illegal. Attorneys found guilty of participating in ambulance chasing can be hit with a fine of up to $15,000 and could face a year in jail.
What Does an Ambulance Chaser Do?
You may picture ambulance chasers as shady lawyers following ambulances to the hospital and trying to convince the victims to hire them as they receive treatment.
In reality, ambulance chasing usually involves someone else talking to the victim on behalf of the law firm. In other cases, lawyers see a headline about an accident and jot down the names of the victims. Then, they seek out contact information of the victims online.
These are some of the most common types of ambulance-chasing strategies to watch out for:
- Ambulance chasers may see a news report about an accident and attempt to contact the victim or the victim’s family.
- Ambulance chasers have been known to pay people called “runners” who monitor traffic collisions and other accidents and attempt to talk victims into contacting the lawyer. They will also pass along leads to the attorney including the personal information of the victim.
- Ambulance chasers may pay emergency personnel, like a paramedic or a first responder to mention the law firm’s name or hand the victim a business card.
- Ambulance chasers often accept cases in which the victim probably doesn’t really need the help of an attorney. The victim could probably earn the same amount of support without a lawyer. However, now the victim receives much less in compensation because part of the settlement check must go towards paying the attorney fee.
- Ambulance chasers reach out to victims online or by phone soon after an accident to see if victims will hire them.
How Do I Tell an Ambulance Chaser from a Reputable Lawyer
If you were contacted by a lawyer you didn’t contact first, or by someone who likely works for the lawyer, you should be suspicious. Ambulance chasers will also use high-pressure tactics to get you to hire them. When a lawyer promises big payouts from insurance companies, beware.
You should check out the online reviews of any lawyer who approaches you. Look over what past clients have said. A lawyer with many bad reviews could be an ambulance chaser.
Trustworthy personal injury lawyers usually work on a contingency basis. It means they don’t get paid unless they win your case for you. If they do win, their fee would come out of the settlement check you received. If a lawyer tries to charge you beforehand, be wary.
A reputable lawyer doesn’t accept cases just to make money. A trustworthy lawyer will only take your case if they feel they can help you earn more. If they can’t earn you more for your case, they should admit that. A busy lawyer with plenty of clients doesn’t need to accept these sorts of cases. They’ll be busy working on cases they can make a difference on.
When Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you only suffer property damage in an accident, you likely won’t benefit from a lawyer’s assistance. You should be able to earn fair treatment by filing a damage claim yourself. If you only suffer very minor injuries, you may not require the help of an attorney.
It’s when your injuries are serious in an accident caused by someone’s negligence that an attorney can prove most helpful. Your hospital bills could rise quickly and your medical care may go on for weeks or months. It’s when recovery will be expensive that insurance companies work the hardest to avoid having to accept responsibility. Insurance adjusters may try to blame you for the accident or question how badly you are hurt.
Your lawyer helps fight back as insurance companies do everything in their power to limit their payout to you. A skilled lawyer protects you from false accusations and negotiates to get you the most in compensation available. This is when having a personal injury lawyer truly benefits the victim and the victim’s family.
Contact a Skilled California Personal Injury Lawyer
At Maison Law of California, we offer a free consultation to all victims hurt in personal injury accidents. You’ll talk to an actual California personal injury lawyer with decades of experience helping victims after devastating accidents.
We want to hear about how an accident and injury has affected your life. If we can’t change the outcome of your claim that much, we’ll tell you that. We can still direct you on how to file your claim and what to watch out for when dealing with unhelpful insurance companies.
Contact us to schedule your free case review. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your case may be worth. There’s no obligation, but if you decide we can help you earn more, you won’t need any upfront money to hire us. We only get paid if we win your case for you.
