Be Wary of Case Runners Trying To Poach Cases

Recently, one of our partners was meeting with a client about an accident case when the client received a phone call. The call was from a legal assistance call center, which was offering to help the client find medical care. The client said it was the third call he had received that day with similar offers.

Such callers are known as case runners. They contact people who are pursuing personal injury claims to lure them away from their attorneys with promises of quick cash settlements of their cases. This is an unethical practice known as poaching cases. The quick payments, if they materialize, are generally far less than what could be recovered through a legitimate personal injury claim.

The accident and injury attorneys of Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., are pursuing a complaint against the poachers who contacted our client. We are making the complaint through the North Carolina State Bar, which regulates the practice of law in North Carolina. We urge anyone who has been in an accident and is considering an injury claim to work with an established and reputable North Carolina law firm. 

What Does Poaching a Case Mean?

Case runners are not lawyers. They typically are people hired by unethical attorneys to contact accident victims and pressure them to hire the attorney they work for. If the accident victim already has an attorney, they will try to poach the client by promising a better outcome to their case.

Runners work by listening to police scanners and reviewing police reports filed after accidents, which are public records. They may contact victims at an accident scene or at the hospital and move quickly to take over what happens to the dazed and uncertain injured accident victim.

Once they target an accident victim, a case runner will hound the injured person with phone calls, email, texts, or in-person visits and make offers of cash and services.

After the runner gets the accident victim to engage their lawyer, the victim may then be pressured to go to a doctor who also works with the runner. Call runners are paid referral fees by the attorney who uses them to generate cases. 

These lawyers pressure their clients to accept unreasonably low insurance settlements. It is wrong when the lawyer knows the settlement is far too low for the value of the case. It is wrong when the lawyer is working only to get a quick settlement, take a cut and move on to the next victim.

Poaching Legal Clients is Unethical

The American Bar Association’s rules of conduct say a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of legal representation with a person represented by another lawyer unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or court order. The rule applies even if the represented person initiates the communication. A lawyer must immediately terminate communication with a person if, after commencing communication, the lawyer learns communication with them is not permitted by this rule.

How To Choose A Lawyer For Your Case

The North Carolina State Bar does not recommend lawyers, but it provides several resources to help you find a lawyer. It says the best resource is a personal recommendation from a friend or family member that you trust.

The N.C. State Bar also says the lawyer you hire should have:

• An active North Carolina law license
• Experience and knowledge in the practice area
• A good record with the North Carolina State Bar. Check a lawyer’s disciplinary record by searching the Disciplinary Order database or by calling the State Bar at 919-828-4620
• Malpractice Insurance
• A good reputation in the community
• Personality or temperament compatible with yours
• Clear information about how you will be charged for the lawyer’s services, the services of paralegals, and for other case expenses, such as obtaining medical records and filing fees

Contact Our Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyers

At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., our injury attorneys are available to review the details of your accident in the Raleigh area and discuss your legal options. Our legal team provides hands-on care and personal attention to our clients. Our personal injury attorneys handle a variety of claims, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, on-the-job injuries, Social Security disability claims, wrongful death cases, harmful drug injuries, slip-and-fall injuries, and product liability claims.

Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., is a highly respected law firm dedicated to providing outstanding legal help to individuals and families. We have the resources, experience, and knowledge to take on some of the largest corporations in America – and win.

We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation for personal injury cases and do not charge a legal fee unless we recover compensation for you. We have staff members who are fluent in Spanish. Call us today at 919-661-9000 or reach out online.

The post Be Wary of Case Runners Trying To Poach Cases appeared first on .

from Younce, Vtipil & Baznik, P.A. https://www.attorneync.com/blog/case-runners-trying-to-poach-cases/
via https://www.attorneync.com