Lawyers And Headhunters - Waiting On Accidents To Happen

Political Realities ^ | 01/21/14 | LD Jackson

[LD Jackson]

This post is inspired by something that happened to me a couple of weeks ago, so it is on a much more personal level. We recently had a small ice storm in our area. I was stuck at work until about 5:00 PM and I knew it was going to be interesting trying to make it home. I was coming down a side street and saw the accident as it happened. A red Camaro failed to stop because of the ice and came across in front of me. I managed to avoid hitting it broadside, but there was a collision. The police were called, reports were filled out, and the lady promised to have her insurance pay for the damages, since it was her fault. No one was hurt and for that, I was thankful. Cars are much easier to replace than human life.

Now to the interesting part. Maybe I was being naive, but I never dreamed I would be so popular. Since the accident, I have received countless solicitations in the mail. It seems every lawyer in the area is my new best friend and they want a piece of the action. All of them promised to make the most out of the situation, but I'm not sure if they meant for me or themselves. I could not believe what I was seeing. All of them wanted me to sue someone, just to make a buck.

If that wasn't enough, I also received a visit from someone at the automotive repair shop where I worked. I knew who he was when he walked in the door, but I had no idea what he wanted. He turned out to be working for a chiropractor. He already knew I had been in an accident and was soliciting me to visit the doctor. He asked me if I was hurt, to which I responded not in the least. He then proceeded to inform me if I would visit the chiropractor he worked for a minimum of two or three times, I could get a check for "pain and suffering".

To say that I was shocked is the understatement of the year. I asked him how he knew I had been in an accident and he said the doctor made sure to check the police department accident reports. Even said I could get a free report, were I to come in for a visit. By this time, I was fuming. All I wanted was to have my truck repaired, which will be happening this week. I wanted nothing to do with being solicited for frivolous lawsuits and receiving a check for "pain and suffering".

Is this the way the world works now? If so, I must really be out of touch. I did not realize so many legal and medical practices were geared to easily capture clients in this way. Is there any wonder insurance is so high? Is there any wonder lawyers are disliked by so many people? I'm thinking some chiropractors need to be placed on that same list.

Is there a "do not solicit" group I can join?

[pieceofthepuzzle]

There are a lot of lawyers having a hard time making a living practicing law (especially those right out of law school). The more difficult it becomes, the more of this we’ll probably see.

[Kackikat]

There will always be unscrupulous people in all professions, however with all the unemployed lawyers graduating from law school this is becoming a nightmare. Ever notice that most journalists are lawyers too.

[USS Alaska]

Wild Bill Shakespeare,

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2, 71–78

Good advice then, even better today.

[Hot Tabasco]

unemployed lawyers graduating from law school

Just look at how many pages of attorneys there are in the Yellow Pages and how many are now running ads on your local TV stations.....Call: 1-800-callSam...(Sam Bernstein)

[oldtech]

When I was still working,I occasionally had filed a workmen’s comp claim for a minor injury. Right after doing so,I would get stuff in the mail from various law firms wanting to “help”me. Apparently,they keep tabs on the claims.

[Kackikat]

You got it, and they take that attorney attitude into other positions.

[sodpoodle]

Here’s the worst of the worst - a self-treating chiropractor with a minor accidental injury resulting in complications after SEVEN MONTHS!!!

Clearly he was well versed in lollygagging and litigious looting.

http://deadspin.com/little-league-coach-sues-own-player-for-dumb-dumb-reas-1502215023

Alan Beck, a chiropractor/little league coach in Lakeside, Calif., is suing a 14-year-old player for tossing his helmet in celebration after scoring a game-winning run. That helmet struck Beck and tore his Achilles tendon.

Beck is seeking $500,000 in pain and suffering, plus $100,000 in legal bills, and is a bad person.

“At first I thought it was joke,” [the player’s father Joe] Paris said. “Now, I think it’s absurd. I’ve already spent over $4,000 and we haven’t even been in a courtroom yet.”

[Shery]

Having lived overseas from 1985-2011, I was totally unprepared for the billboards EVERYWHERE, encouraging people to seek legal address for accidents. And they truly ARE everywhere! EVERYWHERE, bigger than life! Tort reform has been a much-needed reform, more so than health care! Leave it to lawyers to push healthcare reform instead of tort reform. Healthcare costs rose especially due to huge awards for questionable suits, in many cases, but these lawyers know how to work a jury to get their client a bundle of money, of which a VERY PRETTY PENNY goes to them! Had tort reform happened FIRST, we probably would NOT have NEEDED healthcare reform! This is truly a travesty that NO ONE is talking about.

[prof.h.mandingo]

Depending on the state and local laws there may be some ethics violations by the attorneys and especially the guy working for the chiro. Might want to check it out with the local officials. It may rise to a criminal infraction depending on how much the repairman tried to “solicit a claim.” He apparently was telling you to fake a claim for money.