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Why Should You Avoid Working With Ambulance Chasers?

If you were the victim of an accident, you might have received random calls or visits from attorneys promising to help you win thousands if you worked with them. Unfortunately, many of these “ambulance chasers” are only trying to make as much profit as possible from unsuspecting clients. Learn more about these shady individuals and how to avoid falling for their tactics. 

What Do Ambulance Chasers Do?

Ambulance chasers use multiple unethical tactics to encourage someone to file a claim against another party to profit from the situation. Instead of letting a victim come to them after processing what happened, ambulance chasers aggressively force them to sign an agreement with them, even if there’s a low chance of winning. For them, making quick money off the client is what matters.

How To Spot An Ambulance Chaser

It can be hard for a client to understand who’s an ambulance chaser. However, here are a few red flags that may indicate you’re dealing with one:

  • Contacting you out of the blue, especially soon after an accident
  • Using aggressive sales tactics to pressure you into signing an agreement on the spot
  • Offering cash advances for future payouts
  • Making unrealistic promises about your case’s outcome
  • A “witness” giving you unsolicited legal references or advice at the accident

Regardless of which tactics they use, what they’re doing is unethical and may even result in criminal charges in some states. Never sign anything before researching the person’s credentials and understanding your case’s detail.

Ambulance chasing is illegal in 21 states, and the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)  has a code of conduct that prevents legal professionals from soliciting you. In most personal injury or wrongful death cases, a lawyer cannot contact victims within 30 days of the accident. Rule 7.3 also prohibits them from soliciting you if you have already told them you don’t need their services. If you see a legal professional breaking these guidelines, take it as a sign to avoid working with them.

Why Is Ambulance Chasing Unethical?

After an accident happens, you’re often shaken up and unprepared to take any immediate legal action. However, these lawyers will attempt to exploit your vulnerability to find ways to profit from what happened to you. Many are also inexperienced and may not know how to represent their client appropriately, leading to lower settlement offers and jeopardizing your case’s outcome.

Contact Our Professional Attorneys Today

Hiring an unscrupulous ambulance chaser could cost you thousands of dollars and leave you without compensation for your injuries. To prevent this from happening, always work with credible personal injury lawyers who have your best interests at heart. For over 70 years, our team has helped thousands of clients successfully navigate the legal process. If you have any questions or want to schedule a free case review, please contact us online or call us at (866) 576-0484 today.