Did Alex Larian Reach Out to You at a Hospital? Understanding Illegal Practices and Your Options

The phrase “ambulance chasing” refers to the act of soliciting legal clients immediately after they have been injured – at the scene of the accident, at hospitals, and clinics, etc. For lawyers that practice “ambulance chasing,” every ambulance represents a potential client – and a potential payout. This refers to lawyers themselves or their representatives soliciting recently injured and vulnerable individuals.

In California, soliciting legal clients is prohibited both by law and by ethical rules for attoreys. These include the following:

• California Business and Professions Code 6151: prohibits attorneys, and individuals acting on their behalf, from soliciting clients through in-person, telephone, or electronic communication under certain circumstances. This prohibits the direct solicitation from injured individuals or their families at hospitals, accident scenes, etc. within 30 days of the incident.
• California Business and Professions Code 6152: makes it illegal for non-attorneys to solicit or procure legal business for attorneys. This also makes it illegal for attorneys to hire “runners” or “cappers” to solicit clients on their behalf.
• California Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.3: this outlines the ethical standards for attorney solicitation. It prohibits in-person solicitation, meaning that attorneys cannot make direct contact to solicit professional employment unless the individual is someone with a prior professional relationship with the lawyer, a current or former client, or a close friend or relative. Written solicitation is allowed but must be labeled as advertising and must comply with specific requirements to avoid being coercive or misleading.
• Penal Code 549: it is a crime to intentionally solicit or refer business to attorneys, medical professionals, or other service providers in connection with injury claims in exchange for compensation (also referred to as kickbacks)

There are many benefits to the laws and policies mentioned above. In essence, these laws/policies do the following:

• Prevent the exploitation of injured individuals who may be in a vulnerable state after accident and who should not be coerced into a legal contract.
• Maintains public trust towards the legal system, as aggressive solicitation generally erodes confidence in lawyers.
• Ensures fair competition among lawyers by preventing unethical practices.

Finding out that the lawyer that is handling your claim engaged in illegal or unethical practices can certainly be devastating – especially if you are counting on your lawyer’s professionalism and ethics to win your case. If you feel this way about Alex Larian, it is important that you understand that have the right to switch lawyers.

If you are unhappy with the way that Alex Larian is handling your claim or you are worried that Larian’s unethical practices will affect the outcome of your claim, you may be interested in exploring the possibility of subbing out your lawyer and switching representation.

You have the right to switch representation at any time during the legal process. If you are interested in switching out your lawyer, do not hesitate to reach out to our team to schedule a free second opinion. During your free second opinion, our experts will evaluate your case and will help you determine the best course of action. If you ultimately decide to switch lawyers, our team will take care of everything – from contacting the previous firm and informing them of your decision to switch, requesting your case file, informing the courts, etc.

For any additional information about how you can sub out Alex Larian, contact our law firm as soon as possible.

Whether you are pursing a claim after a car accident, truck accident, slip and fall accident, or any other personal injury incident caused by negligence, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Here at our law firm, our experts are fully committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and helping them secure the maximum payout available for their claims – of course, while always acting ethically.

As mentioned above, we offer free second opinions. We also offer free initial consultations. During these free legal services our team will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the guidance that you need to either start or continue your claim after starting it elsewhere. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact our team at your earliest convenience!

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will not have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on contingency, meaning that you will not be required to pay any legal costs at all if your claim is not successful. If you do not win, you simply will not have to pay any legal expenses.