Ambulance chasing is the informal term for barratry, which occurs when someone unlawfully solicits accident victims to sign legal contracts. It can involve individuals or organizations reaching out after a crash or hospital visit to pressure someone into hiring a specific personal injury lawyer. In Texas, this conduct is illegal and carries serious penalties. During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers raised the fine for barratry to $50,000 per violation, effective September 1, 2025.

Barratry Laws in Texas: What Is Ambulance Chasing, Really?

Barratry laws were created to protect accident victims from unethical solicitation and manipulation. These laws are designed to stop individuals from taking advantage of people during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. Under Texas Penal Code § 38.12, it is illegal for lawyers or anyone acting on their behalf to contact potential clients after accidents or tragedies.

The Legal Definition of Barratry

Barratry covers a wide range of actions meant to pressure someone into hiring a specific lawyer. It includes paying for referrals, offering money or gifts for signing a contract, or even sending agents to hospitals or accident scenes to solicit victims. These behaviors violate Texas Penal Code § 38.12, which makes it a criminal offense to seek clients through personal contact rather than voluntary inquiry.

Lawful advertising is different. Lawyers can run ads, sponsor community events, market themselves ethically, and maintain websites that describe their services because the choice to reach out still rests with the client. What crosses the line is when someone makes direct, unsolicited contact after an accident in an attempt to secure business.

Why Ambulance Chasing Laws Exist

Barratry laws help protect the public’s trust in the legal profession. When lawyers or their representatives follow the law, our clients can feel confident that their case was chosen for the right reasons. Not because someone approached them at their worst moment.

These rules also ensure that accident victims receive representation based on skill and commitment instead of pressure or exploitation. By setting these boundaries, Texas reinforces that legal help should always come from informed choice, not coercion.

How Ambulance Chasing Works

Unethical solicitation often begins within hours of an accident, when victims are in pain and searching for help. These individuals exploit that vulnerability by showing up without invitation and pretending to offer assistance that serves their own interests. Under Texas Government Code § 82.0651, victims may pursue civil penalties against anyone who participates in or profits from illegal solicitation, not just the lawyers behind it. Common barratry tactics include:

  • Visiting hospital rooms to pressure patients into signing legal contracts
  • Paying tow-truck drivers for accident referrals
  • Sending people who pose as investigators or case managers to contact victims
  • Using social media messages to reach out directly to injured individuals
  • Calling crash victims using information taken from police or accident reports
  • Offering money or free medical care in exchange for signing with a lawyer
  • Asking repair shops to distribute referral cards to customers
  • Creating false online profiles to promote a specific law firm

Anyone who takes part in these schemes can face civil and criminal penalties, including fines and loss of license. If you were pressured into signing an agreement after an accident, you may still have legal options to cancel the contract and report the misconduct.

Criminal and Civil Penalties for Barratry

Under Texas Penal Code § 38.12(b), barratry is a crime that carries serious consequences. It can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Convictions can result in jail time and professional discipline that jeopardize a lawyer’s ability to continue practicing.

During the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers raised fines for barratry to $50,000 per violation, effective September 1, 2025. The change was designed to hold offenders fully accountable and discourage unethical solicitation that preys on accident victims.

Victims who were approached illegally have the right to take civil action under Texas Government Code § 82.0651. This statute allows individuals to recover financial losses and other damages when someone unlawfully solicits their case. When you understand your rights, you can recognize improper or unethical conduct and take steps to protect yourself from future violations.

How Barratry Affects Legitimate Accident Victims

Barratry makes it harder for real accident victims like you to secure fair compensation. If you are recovering from a serious or catastrophic injury, you deserve time and reliable legal advice, not pressure from people trying to take advantage of your situation. These unethical tactics can interrupt your recovery and make it more difficult to find someone you can truly trust.

Manipulating Vulnerable People After a Car Accident

Unethical solicitation often starts when car accident victims are still in the hospital or coping with pain at home. You might get calls or visits promising quick payouts or free legal help. The goal is to get your signature, not to help you recover or protect your rights.

When you are pressured during recovery, it is easy to sign something without realizing what it means. Once that happens, your medical information and insurance details can be used without your consent. This can delay treatment and make it harder to move forward with a valid personal injury claim.

Undermining Catastrophic Injury Claims

Ambulance chasing can cause major problems for serious injury cases. When unqualified or unethical people get involved, they create confusion about who represents you and what was agreed to. That confusion can slow down your case and delay payments you might be owed.

Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, there is a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you were misled by an ambulance chaser, you could lose valuable time before realizing your claim was not properly handled.

How to Avoid Ambulance Chasers

Spotting the warning signs of ambulance chasers can help you protect yourself and your case. Knowing what to look for can also keep you from sharing sensitive information with people who may misuse it. The Texas Department of Insurance advises consumers to report suspected solicitation or fraud as soon as possible. Watch for these common red flags:

  • Unexpected calls or texts after a crash asking if you need legal help
  • People showing up at the hospital or your home claiming to represent a law firm
  • Offers of cash or free services in exchange for signing paperwork
  • Strangers asking for your insurance or medical details at an accident scene
  • Pressure to sign a contract before you have had time to read it
  • Social media messages from unfamiliar accounts offering to “connect you with a lawyer”
  • Tow-truck drivers or repair shop employees suggesting a specific attorney
  • Anyone who refuses to show identification or provide written contact information

If you encounter this kind of solicitation after a car or truck accident or slip and fall incident, write down as many details as you can before reporting it. Note the person’s name, the law firm name and location (if known) phone number, and any written materials you received. This information can help authorities recognize repeated instances of misconduct and potentially protect other accident victims from similar targeting.

How to Report Barratry in Texas

If you believe someone illegally solicited you after an accident, report it to the State Bar of Texas Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. The complaint form is available on the State Bar’s website and can be submitted online or by mail. Include names, dates, phone numbers, and any documents or messages related to the contact.

Under Texas Government Code § 82.0651(e), victims can cancel contracts formed through illegal solicitation. Attach the disputed agreement to your complaint or reference it in your written statement so investigators can review how the contact occurred.

If you are unsure how to begin, reach out to the State Bar’s grievance information line for assistance with the complaint form. Giving specific details helps the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel verify reports and follow up with any and all of the people involved in the solicitation.

What Ethical Law Firms Do Differently

Ethical law firms build relationships through honesty and professionalism, not pressure or manipulation. They follow Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.03, which prohibits lawyers from soliciting professional employment through direct contact such as in-person meetings or phone calls. Instead of using aggressive tactics, reputable firms focus on serving the community and earning trust through their work. You can recognize an ethical law firm by practices such as:

  • Allowing clients to initiate contact when they need legal help
  • Providing verified testimonials from real clients
  • Engaging in community outreach and public education
  • Offering transparent explanations of fees and billing practices
  • Maintaining clear communication during the case
  • Upholding privacy and confidentiality in all interactions

Ethical firms will always let their results and reputation speak for them. We earn our clients’ trust by treating every case with integrity and by prioritizing the people we represent.

Get Help From Your Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer at Goff Law, PLLC Today

Ambulance chasing takes advantage of accident victims when they need real help the most. Since 2003, our team has helped Texans recover over $5,000,000 in trial verdicts and insurance settlements through honest, client-initiated representation. Contact your Cedar Hill personal injury lawyer from Goff Law, PLLC to report unethical solicitation and get support from a firm that handles every case the right way from the start.