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How
to protect yourself from ambulance chasers
Ambulance chasing—or direct solicitations
from an attorney within 30 days of an accident—is unethical
and should not be tolerated in any form. Whether an
attorney, public adjuster, private investigator or any
other "well meaning" individual does this,
it is unethical. They are only concerned with their
own self-interests and not those of the injured person
or victim.
If you are directly called or contacted by an attorney,
public adjuster or investigator, you should report this
unethical conduct to the Bureau of Professional Regulation
of the State of Florida. If the person directly contacting
you is an attorney, you should also contact the Florida
Bar.
There is currently a problem with this type of activity
in Central Florida. So be aware if an attorney or other
"official" contacts you following an accident.
Be sure to check out their background and authority
to contact you.
If an attorney contacts you within 30 days of an accident
through direct mail, s/he has violated the Florida Bar
Rules. You should send a copy of the letter and the
accident report to the Florida Bar. Get
address information from the Florida Bar's website.
One June 21, 1995, The United States Supreme Court upheld
the Florida Bar's Rule 4-7.4(b)(1)A. This rule imposes
a 30-day waiting period for direct mail advertising
parties. Victims have the right to tranquility and privacy
during this 30-day period. In 1999, the Florida Legislature
went further and made it a crime to use official accident
reports to contact an accident victim. So if you are
the victim of direct solicitation, get the facts and
then call the police and report the crime.
Attorneys, public adjusters or investigators should
not subject victims to invasive, unsolicited contact.
This type of activity only causes further erosion of
public confidence in attorneys and the legal system.
Each of us can make a difference by insisting on ethical
and responsible conduct by attorneys, public adjusters
and investigators. You don't have to be a victim twice.
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