Illinois Personal Injury- Avoiding Ambulance Chasers
by Michael Helfand
(Illinois)
You’ve probably heard the term “ambulance chaser.” It refers to an attorney who approaches an injured person – at their home, at the hospital, even at the scene of an accident – and offers to represent them if they decide to sue. Basically, these attorneys take advantage of someone in a crisis.
For obvious reasons, this is considered an unethical way to get clients. Most attorneys wouldn’t do anything even remotely close to ambulance chasing. However, not all attorneys are ethical. Some will prey on an injured or distressed person if they think it will bring in some good business.
Ambulance chasing happens. It’s not limited to those attorneys who are desperate for work – it happens with big firms as well. Some of these attorneys follow the news looking for potential clients to approach. There are some who show up at hospitals looking for clients, or pay hospital staffers to tip them off on a good case. Some have relationships with police officers who will hand out their business cards.
In addition to being unethical, this approach can lead to unethical and insufficient representation. If an attorney is willing to act unethically to get your business, then they may be willing to act unethically once you’re a client. And it may cost you your case.
In our opinion, an attorney should be looking out for the best interests of their clients at all times. They should treat clients with respect and never take advantage of someone’s misfortune. And they should act ethically in every aspect of your case. We only recommend attorneys who meet these criteria.
If you need help finding an experienced, successful and honest attorney, please contact us.
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Michael Helfand has been an Illinois attorney since 1997 and is founder of FindGreatLawyers.com the leading resource for Illinois lawyer referrals and legal guidance.
