Accidents like the BP Gulf oil spill and the PG&E gas line explosion in San Bruno, California give rise to a slew of litigation. Those who are physically injured or killed may not be the only victims with a cause to sue; families of those injured have also been harmed and might seek legal remedies. In addition, anyone whose home or business was impaired as a result of the accident may sue. Because of this great potential for litigation, some lawyers seek to take advantage of victims.
Is Ambulance Chasing Legal? Why Is It Done?
“Ambulance chaser” is a pejorative term for a lawyer who aggressively pursues accident victims in order to be hired to represent them in a potential lawsuit. Sometimes the lawyer even pretends to be a family member to get to the victim’s bedside in the hospital. Though ambulance chasing is technically legal in some states (aside from the lying to get to the hospital bedside), bar associations in most states have strictly enforced rules against it, and many states have laws against soliciting clients in that way.
Personal injury attorneys who engage in ambulance-chasing or similar soliciting activity do it because of the potential payout. Personal injury suits can bring in a lot of money, and the more vulnerable a potential client is, the more likely it is that the lawyer can convince the victim to hire him or her.
Why It’s Important to Take Time in Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney
The attorney-client relationship is a very important one. A victim should realize that his attorney is representing his interests. Attorneys who solicit clients in chaotic or rushed situations are often more interested in their own personal payout than in the victims’ best interests.
When you take your time to decide on an attorney, you are much more likely to find someone you are comfortable with and who has experience representing people in situations similar to yours. This will also increase your chances of winning the lawsuit or getting a good settlement.
What to Look for In a Personal Injury Attorney
The ideal personal injury attorney will have experience in the kind of litigation in which you will be involved. If you have been in a car accident, find someone who has represented someone injured in a car crash before. If you are involved in a bigger accident, such as the BP oil spill, you may want to look for a lawyer who has experience with mass torts or class actions.
Another important thing to look for in a personal injury attorney is compatibility. The better your rapport with your attorney and the more open you feel you can be, the better you will feel about the litigation. Also, any attorney is more likely to work hardest for someone with whom he or she has a good relationship.
Finding a Personal Injury Attorney
As a general rule of thumb, it’s not a good idea to hire an attorney who found you before you found him or her. Seek recommendations from friends and family, check the yellow pages, and search on the internet. A great place to start is AttorneyPages, which has a comprehensive listing of experienced personal injury attorneys in every state.
Remember, you do not need to rush this process. Be sure you are comfortable with your lawyer’s ethics and experience, and feel free to talk to multiple attorneys before selecting the right one for you.