Believe it or not, many law firms have used ambulance chasing to find injured clients. These ambulance chasers (also known as ‘cappers,’ ’runners,’ or ‘solicitors’) follow injured victims in the hopes of obtaining a personal injury case for an attorney. Ambulance chasers will try almost anything to bring an injured person’s case to the attorney they work for. That is because they are usually compensated by a percentage of the personal injury case. The practice is barred in 21 states as well as in Washington D.C.
How Could Ambulance Chasing Affect Me?
The effect of ambulance chasing could take place before it’s too late. More often than not, the runner would send a client to an attorney that is not suited for the client’s case. In simpler terms, a person could have fallen for the trap of a runner, and be stuck with an awful attorney that doesn’t care about their client and just cares about the money. Some people believe that good luck always comes their way, or that good things just happen to them. With ambulance chasers, this is not the case. That is why ambulance chasing has been made illegal; to help everyday people from being scammed by attorneys that want a quick buck.
Why Ambulance Chasing is Illegal
Ambulance chasing is illegal in 21 states including Washington, D.C. Although more than half of the US allows for ambulance chasing, the American Bar Association does not. This means an attorney is not acting ethically when ambulance chasing, and may face repercussions if they do so. In the states where chasing is illegal, such as California, the injured person would be entitled to recover any fees or restitution given to the attorney. Attorneys who ambulance chase may also have today $15,000 in fines and/or spend one year in county prison. More often than not are the runners bringing injured people to attorneys that can’t handle their case. This is one of the main reasons why ambulance chasing has been made illegal- as the attorneys are solely looking after money, and are soliciting payment from someone. It’s important to note that a person could offer or recommend you to an attorney, as long as they’re not being paid to do so.
How Do Ambulance Chasers Find Accidents to Bring Clients In?
Ambulance chasing was not illegal in the state of California prior to 2011. Runners could be waiting on police radio, CV radio, or electronic scanners to relay information on where an accident has occurred, and whether or not an ambulance would be needed. These runners would then show up to an accident scene or follow an ambulance to the hospital, and claim that they’re there to ‘help you.’ In reality, these people are there to bring an injured person to an attorney so that the attorney may make money.
The other way of ambulance chasing involves having ‘insider’ information. For example, runners could pay a few hundred dollars to the receptionist at the ER, a tow truck driver, or a police agency, and have all the information about accidents in the city. These workers could relay the message that an accident had occurred and that there could be a case for a lawyer to take.
What Schemes Do Runners Use To Lure Clients?
Ambulance chasers use a multitude of manipulative tactics to bring in unsuspecting people to attorneys. These people could act as witnesses to the accident and try to give advice on what to say and what lawyer to go to. These people could show up minutes after a collision and claim that they saw what happened. Runners could also promise large financial recoveries or a quick claim. Once enticed about ‘large recoveries,’ the injured person would be brought into a law office and be told to sign some forms. Major tactics ambulance chasers use is calling their own tow truck company. This would allow the attorney to know everything about your case- what car you have, the kind of accident that happened, if there were any injuries, and most importantly: your information. With your name and address, attorneys could send letter after letter trying to bring you in.
Contact Pride Legal
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, we invite you to contact us at Pride Legal for legal counseling or any further questions. To protect your rights, hire someone who understands them.
