HOUSTON – If you’ve been in a wreck in Houston, you probably know the basics: check for injuries, call 911, exchange information. But what if someone shows up at the hospital, texts you, or pressures you to sign legal papers right after a crash? That may be illegal solicitation, called barratry — commonly known as “ambulance chasing.”
What does that mean?
Barratry is the illegal solicitation of legal business by attorneys, runners, or case brokers. In plain terms, it’s when someone targets accident victims to steer them into hiring a particular lawyer or firm. Texas law protects your right to pick your own attorney and provides remedies if you were solicited unlawfully. In some cases, victims may be entitled to significant compensation — sometimes $50,000 or more…