New Legislation Makes Hiring “Runners” a Crime in Georgia

On July 1, 2014, new legislation (OCGA 33-24-53) went into effect in Georgia that prohibits attorneys and physicians from using “runners”to obtain prospective clients. A “runner” is someone that solicits business from accident victims or their families on behalf of unethical accident attorneys. “Runners” would obtain personal contact information from police accident reports or approach victims and families in hospital rooms, waiting areas or cafeterias. Runners may have also been unscrupulous employees of wrecker or ambulance companies.

These accident attorneys and their “runners” have given the legal profession a bad reputation, because they are the “ambulance chasers”. While hiring “runners” has been unethical and a violation of Georgia bar rules for some time, It is now a crime in Georgia for attorneys to use “runners” to solicit clients. In addition, the new law provides additional protections for your personal information in police records of car accidents.

At Spooner & Associates, PC, we have never hired “runners”. We receive inquiries for assistance from clients that learn about our firm through former clients, the internet, or other attorneys and professionals. We believe that your sole focus after a car accident should be to heal yourself and your family so you can return to a normal life. It’s the responsibility of insurance companies to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages as the result of an accident.

In instances where the insurance companies are unreasonable or you simply do not want to deal with the aggravation, you may decide to obtain the services of a personal injury attorney to handle your claim. With the new law in effect, we hope that you can take the time to find a personal injury attorney that is a good fit for you instead of being recruited by a runner. While we believe the new law will cut down on “runners”, be careful. Unfortunately, as long as there are accidents, there will be some unethical attorneys and others who will try to beat the system. Contact the attorneys of Spooner & Associates, PC to review your legal issues and to handle your claim in an ethical and professional manner.

Spooner & Associates

Spooner and Associates, P.C., based in Suwanee, GA, is a firm of skilled litigators who are aggressive in the courtroom. However, when it is in our client’s best interests, we can handle cases through negotiation or methods of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. Our experienced Gwinnett County attorneys help people in North Metro Atlanta solve their legal problems. In all of our cases, we determinedly represent our clients to get them results. Whether we are resolving a custody issue or a marital property issue related to a divorce, our lawyers are dedicated to the needs of each client.