If you are injured in a car accident and are hoping to move forward with an injury claim, you likely plan to hire an attorney to assist with this process. However, you may not know where to look to find a great lawyer, especially if you’re also dealing with other issues after an accident like painful injuries or time away from work. In these scenarios, it may seem super convenient that a lawyer happened to approach you offering their services or promising to help you collect compensation for your injuries. Be wary of solicitors or firms who approach you after an accident, because it could be part of a larger scam. In today’s blog, we explain how these scams work and share some tips on how to avoid a solicitation scam if you’ve been injured in a Minnesota car accident.
Solicitation Scams After A Car Accident
Injury lawyers used to sometimes be called “ambulance chasers” because some would actually follow ambulances to the scene of an accident, hoping to pass their information along to an injured individual who may be looking to win a personal injury award. With the rise of the internet and other data collection technologies, injury law firms no longer need to physically chase the ambulance, and many states have actually outlawed the practice of soliciting injury victims without their consent. The practice is illegal in Minnesota, but Wisconsin doesn’t have any specific laws about post-accident solicitation, so know that it could happen to you depending on where you’re traveling.
Even though the practice is illegal here in Minnesota, some firms or out-of-state practices will try to connect with an injured party through less obvious means, like e-mail or a third-party solicitation entity. Be wary of hiring someone like that to handle your case, even if it’s convenient that they came to you during your time of need. Here’s why:
Avoid The Firm That Comes To You – While it may seem convenient that a lawyer is reaching out to you right after an accident, they likely don’t have your best interests in mind. They want to quickly throw together a weak claim and then urge you to jump on a settlement offer so they get a quick payday. A good personal injury firm doesn’t seek out injured clients, they let their reputation and reviews speak for themselves so that they can be found by prospective clients. We do a lot to promote our firm and make it easy for clients to find us if they are dealing with a wide variety of personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, but at the end of the day, the client should be the one seeking out the professional, not the other way around.
Find Out Where They Are Located – If a firm comes to you after an injury, there’s a good chance that they are located out of state since it’s illegal to solicit injured victims in Minnesota. This out-of-state firm will be difficult to communicate with and they aren’t going to be meeting with you or fighting in court on your behalf. Again, they are just hoping to get a quick settlement offer so they can get a cut of your payday. Know where a firm is located when hiring an injury lawyer.
Avoid Unrealistic Promises – If a firm promises you a payday, be leery. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the world of injury law, so if a lawyer promises a payday during their pitch, it’s a sign of a dishonest lawyer. Many firms offer no fees unless you win your case, but they can’t guarantee that you will win. If the attorney is promising the world just to get you to sign a contract, know that they likely don’t have your best interests at heart.
They Push For A Quick Settlement – As we’ve said on this blog numerous times in the past, it’s very rare to accept the first offer from the insurance company. If you’re working with a firm who is actively pushing you to agree to the first offer or who isn’t giving you many options for proceeding other than taking the offer on the table, it’s time to turn to another lawyer. Most cases end up resolving with the help of a settlement, but it’s very rare to jump on the first offer, and a good lawyer will work to counter an initial offer and boost your potential payday.
If you’re injured, go online and read some reviews from lawyers in your area. Lean on trusted review sites like Google or Facebook instead of going to personal websites that can be controlled by the firm. Ask around for recommendations and take multiple meetings until you find an attorney you trust. Don’t assume that any lawyer who approaches you after an accident has your best interests in mind.
For more information about finding a great lawyer if you’re considering pursuing a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim, reach out to Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.
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