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If you’ve been in a car accident and suddenly started receiving strange spam calls or scam texts from people claiming to “help” with your case, you’re not alone. This is a growing problem, and unfortunately, it’s often tied to illegal and unethical practices in the legal industry.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we’ve seen an increase in reports of lead generators and even law firms engaging in barratry – commonly known as ambulance chasing.
Why Am I Getting Calls from Lawyers After My Car Accident and How Are They Getting My Information?
Here’s why and how it happens:
- Your Accident Report May Have Become Public Record – In some states, police accident reports are public records and can be accessed by anyone, including lawyers and marketing companies. Some law firms use data mining services to collect this information and reach out to accident victims. While Texas restricts the release of personal information on accident reports, some third parties still find ways to obtain and use these details.
- Lead Generators Are Selling Your Information – Many law firms don’t make these calls themselves. Instead, they pay shady marketing companies (lead generators) to collect and sell accident victim information. These companies might use the following methods:
- Police scanner monitoring – Listening to first responder radio traffic to identify fresh accidents.
- Towing & hospital records – Some businesses illegally sell accident information to lead generators.
- Social media tracking – If you post about your accident, they may scrape your data and use it to contact you.
- Scam Calls Disguised as “Helpful Services” – Some calls may not be from actual law firms but from scam operations posing as legal or medical services. They might say things like:
- “We’re calling to check on you after your accident.”
- “We offer free resources to help with your recovery.”
- “Your insurance company asked us to reach out to you.”
🚨 Warning: Many of these callers are not legitimate. They may be trying to sell your case to a law firm for a referral fee or push you into unnecessary medical treatment for financial gain.
👉 Legitimate lawyers do not cold-call accident victims. If you receive an unsolicited call from a lawyer, it is a red flag that they may be engaging in unethical or illegal practices.
Is It Illegal for a Lawyer to Call Me After an Accident?
Yes, this is called barratry, and it is illegal. Barratry can include the following:
- Unsolicited phone calls, texts, or visits from a lawyer you didn’t contact first.
- Non-lawyers (runners) approaching you on behalf of an attorney.
- Receiving messages from “helpful” services that push you toward a specific lawyer or clinic.
- Fake “insurance” or “medical assistance” calls that steer you to a law firm.
These methods are prohibited under Texas law, and lawyers caught engaging in it can face serious penalties, including disbarment.
But many firms aren’t making these calls directly. Instead, they rely on shady lead generation companies (or even hospitals and emergency services) to do their dirty work, using the methods we described earlier.
Here’s A Real-Life Example That Actually Happened to One of Us
Just last week, one of our own team members had a close encounter with this scam. His wife’s son was in a wreck in San Antonio due to bad weather. Days later, she received a call from an unknown number—the caller claimed to be checking on the accident victim and offering “resources.” But when she declined their help, they insisted they’d call back next week.
Sound familiar? We also found hundreds of similar reports online. A Reddit user shared their experience of receiving non-stop calls and texts after a rear-end accident, with some callers even posing as insurance adjusters.
👉 Read the Reddit discussion here: Strange Calls/Texts After Being Rear-Ended
What Should I Do If I Get a Call from a Lawyer That I Didn’t Contact?
If you receive a suspicious call after your car accident:
- Do not engage – These callers are often trained to pressure you into sharing details. Simply hang up.
- Ask for their name and company – If you’re feeling bold, try to get as much information as possible. If they refuse to provide details, it’s a red flag.
- Report them – File a complaint with the Texas Bar Association, the Texas Department of Insurance (if the caller claims to be from an insurance company), and to the district attorney in the county you live.
- Never sign anything – Some scammers may even send over documents disguised as legal forms. Never sign anything from an unknown source.
Can I Sue a Lawyer or Company for Illegally Soliciting Me After an Accident?
Yes, depending on your state’s laws, you may be able to sue a lawyer or company that illegally solicits you after an accident. In Texas and many other states, direct solicitation of accident victims by attorneys or their representatives is illegal under barratry laws (also known as “ambulance chasing”).
👉 In Texas, a lawyer caught illegally soliciting accident victims can lose their law license, face fines, or even go to jail.
Here’s How to Take Action Against Illegal Solicitation
If you are illegally solicited by a lawyer or their representatives, you have legal options to take action, like:
- Filing a complaint with the State Bar of Texas – Lawyers who break barratry laws can be disbarred or suspended.
- Reporting the solicitor to law enforcement – after all, in states like Texas, barratry can be a felony offense.
- Suing for damages – Texas law allows victims of illegal solicitation to sue the lawyer or law firm for damages, including a refund of any legal fees paid.
👉 Texas Penal Code §38.12 states that if a lawyer illegally solicits you and you end up hiring them, you have the right to sue for damages and get your attorney fees back.
Here’s How to Choose a Legitimate Lawyer After an Accident
- Avoid lawyers who cold-call or text you first.
- Do your own research and choose a reputable law firm.
- Look for client reviews, case results, and verified bar credentials.
- And keep in mind, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Remember, Legit Lawyers Don’t Chase Cases. They Win Them.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we never cold-call accident victims. Our reputation is built on real client success, not illegal solicitations. If you’re injured in an accident, the best way to get legal help is to contact a trusted law firm directly.
If you or someone you know has received these calls, let us know. We’re working to expose and report these illegal practices to protect accident victims from being scammed.
📞 If you need real help after your accident, call The Texas Hammer at 1-800-505-1414 for a FREE consultation.
