ambulance chaser
Noun: * A lawyer, or a person working for a lawyer, who unethically seeks out victims of accidents (or their families) immediately after the event to solicit business and encourage them to file a lawsuit for damages. The term implies aggressive, opportunistic, and often exploitative behavior.
The term "ambulance chaser" is almost always used in a derogatory and critical manner. It is not a formal legal title but a colloquial label expressing disapproval of a specific, unethical practice within the legal profession. * It is used to criticize lawyers perceived as prioritizing profit over genuine client welfare. * It describes the specific act of soliciting clients at a vulnerable time, such as at a hospital or accident scene.
- "After the factory explosion, the town was flooded with ambulance chasers trying to sign up clients."
- "He was widely regarded as an ambulance chaser for his tactics in contacting victims' families before the funerals."
- "Many states have strict rules to prevent ambulance chasing by attorneys."
The term carries strong negative connotations of greed, exploitation, and a lack of professional ethics. It criticizes a form of aggressive marketing that is considered tasteless and predatory. The imagery of "chasing" an ambulance underscores the perceived eagerness to profit from another's misfortune.
- Ambulance chasing (noun/gerund): The act or practice of soliciting legal business from accident victims in an unethical manner.
- Example: "The firm was investigated for allegations of ambulance chasing."
- Shyster (n.): A dishonest or unscrupulous lawyer (broader term).
- Barratror (n., legal term): A person who habitually incites or stirs up lawsuits.
- Unethical solicitor (n., descriptive phrase).
While "ambulance chaser" itself is a fixed phrase, it is often used in the context of criticizing the legal system or certain personal injury practices. * "Ambulance-chasing lawyer": A more explicit, though redundant, form of the term. * The practice is sometimes metaphorically called "feeding on misfortune" or "profiteering from tragedy."
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an unethical lawyer who incites accident victims to sue