Personal injury attorneys are prohibited from soliciting clients after an accident. Lawyers who approach injured parties in hospitals are called ambulance chasers, which is seen as pejorative. While personal injury attorneys earn from financial judgments, they are selective about cases. The decision to take legal action is the injured party’s responsibility. Unethical business attorneys can become corporate ambulance chasers. Aggressive solicitation is seen as cruel, and ethical lawyers are not allowed to approach potential clients outside their offices.
A code of ethics prohibits personal injury attorneys from actively soliciting prospective clients immediately after an accident or injury has occurred. An unscrupulous legal professional who approaches injured parties or their family members in the hospital could aptly be called an ambulance chaser. A lawyer described as an ambulance chaser could literally follow an ambulance into a hospital or use other unethical means to identify potential clients. Some attorneys may actually embrace the title, but the vast majority of legal professionals see the term “ambulance chaser” as pejorative and offensive.
Personal injury attorneys earn a significant amount of their income from financial judgments awarded to their clients. This practice is not unethical in and of itself, since many personal injury attorneys do not charge their clients for the prep work leading up to a trial. This is why most personal injury attorneys are very selective about the cases they take, as their income depends on filing a strong case in court. The temptation to become an “ambulance chaser” to solicit the best clients and cases can be very strong indeed.
The decision to take legal action against the party or persons held responsible for the accident or injury is generally the responsibility of the injured party. A conscientious lawyer can offer free advice, but only after the injured party has made initial contact. Only an “ambulance chaser” would approach the injured party first and try to persuade them to take legal action. This type of aggressive behavior is a direct violation of the bar association’s code of ethics and can lead to permanent disbarment if the allegations are proven true.
The concept of “ambulance chaser” can also be applied in the business world. Some unscrupulous corporate raiders or opportunists might learn of a company’s current financial problems and literally swoop in to offer their questionable assistance. In essence, an experienced but unethical business attorney could use his skills to become a corporate “ambulance chaser,” actively soliciting business from failing companies.
Families in crisis mode following a major accident may not be in the right frame of mind to face potential lawsuits. This is why many people consider the aggressive solicitations of an “ambulance chaser” particularly cruel or opportunistic. Ethical legal professionals may advertise their services and areas of expertise, but are not permitted to approach potential clients outside of their offices.
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