Beware of Ambulance Chasers in NYC: Runners, Illegal Solicitation & Your Rights

Runners, illegal solicitation, predatory medical referrals, tow scams, and shady “helpers” can target you within hours of a New York City accident. Learn how to protect yourself, your health, and your personal injury claim.

An accident can change your life in seconds. One moment, you are commuting, working, or running errands. Next, you may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, lost wages, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what comes next.

Unfortunately, that vulnerable window is exactly when some people try to profit from injured New Yorkers.

Many people have heard the phrase “ambulance chaser.” In real life, the problem is often a coordinated network of individuals and businesses that may include:

• Runners who sell accident victims’ information to lawyers or clinics
• Unethical “steerers” who pressure victims to sign legal paperwork quickly
• Medical referral pipelines designed to maximize billing instead of recovery
• Tow truck and repair shop steering schemes
• Fake witnesses, investigators, or helpers offering referrals and “guidance.”
• Settlement advance and quick cash offers that trap victims in bad contracts

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we believe the personal injury system should help you heal, not exploit your pain. If someone is pressuring you, contacting you aggressively, showing up at the hospital, or steering you toward a specific doctor or lawyer, our team can help you protect your rights immediately.

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If you were injured in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Yonkers, or Nassau County, get ethical, experienced legal guidance today.

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What Is an “Ambulance Chaser” in NYC?

“Ambulance chasing” refers to unethical or illegal solicitation, meaning a lawyer or someone acting for a lawyer contacts an accident victim directly for financial gain, often right after an injury.

The stereotype is a lawyer chasing ambulances. In New York City today, solicitations are often conducted by third parties. These schemes can involve:

• Hospital room visits
• Home visits soon after an accident
• Calls, texts, emails, and social media outreach
• “Investigators” who pressure you to sign paperwork
• Tow truck and repair referrals tied to clinics and law firms
• Promises of fast money or guaranteed settlements

If someone is trying to sign you up while you are in pain, medicated, or overwhelmed, that is a serious warning sign.

What Are “Runners” and Why Are They Dangerous?

A runner (also called a capper, solicitor, or steerer) is a person who seeks out accident victims and steers them to a specific lawyer, clinic, tow company, or service in exchange for leads, kickbacks, or referral fees.

Runners may obtain information through questionable channels, such as:

• Monitoring police scanners and incident alerts
• Pulling crash details from accident reports or public databases
• Using contacts at hospitals, towing companies, or repair shops
• Posing as witnesses or “helpers.”
• Stealing confidential information from a hospital
• Approaching victims at the crash scene, hospital, or home

A runner does not care about your recovery. They care about selling your case to the highest bidder.

NYC Laws and Ethical Rules: Advertising vs. Illegal Solicitation

Many people wonder: “Is this actually illegal?”

New York allows general attorney advertising, such as billboards, websites, TV ads, and online ads. That is legal because it is not targeted at a specific injured person.

What is often illegal or unethical is direct solicitation, especially when it is:

• In person
• Done through a runner
• Targeting you at the hospital or at home
• Using pressure, fear, or urgency
• Offering money, gifts, or transportation

Even when a specific act is not prosecuted, unethical solicitation can violate professional rules and may indicate a larger scam operation. If you suspect a runner is involved, you should speak with an independent NYC personal injury attorney immediately.

How Do Runners and Solicitors Find NYC Accident Victims So Fast?

Accident victims often ask: “How did they get my information?”

Common ways include:

• Police scanner monitoring
• Public accident reports and databases
• Stealing confidential information from the hospital
• Social media posts, news alerts, and neighborhood group monitoring
• Insiders with access to victim information, such as hospital employees, dispatchers, tow operators, or others in the accident response system
• Location-based ad targeting that pushes ads to your phone after a hospital or clinic visit

If you are receiving calls or texts within hours, it is not a coincidence. It is often an organized solicitation effort.

Common Ambulance Chasing Schemes in New York City

1) Hospital or Home Visit Solicitation

A stranger shows up at your hospital room or home offering “legal help.” They may claim to be an investigator, a case manager, or a helper. Their real goal is to get you to sign quickly.

2) Fake Witnesses or “Helpers.”

Someone claims they saw what happened and offers to connect you with “their lawyer.” They may pressure you to share personal details or sign documents.

3) Clinic First Funnels and Medical Billing Schemes

You are pushed into a chiropractor or clinic first, then routed to a lawyer later. These pipelines are often built around billing and referral compensation, not medical necessity.

4) Tow Truck and Repair Shop Steering

A tow truck arrives unexpectedly and pushes you to a specific repair shop. You may later face inflated repair bills, high storage fees, and difficulty getting your vehicle back. Some towing pipelines are connected to legal and medical referrals.

5) Quick Cash and Settlement Funding Traps

You are offered “guaranteed money,” a settlement advance, transportation, or gifts. These deals often involve extreme fees and contracts that influence your medical care and legal representation.

How These Schemes Can Damage Your NYC Personal Injury Case

Unnecessary treatment can hurt your credibility.

Excessive or questionable treatment can raise red flags with insurers and defense lawyers. Your case should be supported by medically necessary care, not profit-driven treatment plans.

You could be pressured into exaggeration or fraud.

Some operations encourage exaggerated injuries or inflated claims. That can expose you to allegations of insurance fraud, criminal penalties, denial of benefits, and long-term damage to your credibility.

You may lose valuable evidence.

Surveillance footage, witness information, crash data, and documentation can disappear quickly. Early legal action is often the difference between a strong case and a compromised case.

You may sign contracts you do not understand

Accident victims are often in shock, medicated, or dealing with concussions and trauma. Some contracts can lock you into fees, providers, or funding arrangements that are hard to unwind.

You may end up with a “settlement mill.”

If a firm is willing to use unethical solicitation, that may be a sign that it also rushes cases, limits attorney involvement, and prioritizes volume over results.

Red Flags You Are Being Targeted by a Runner or Ambulance Chaser

Be cautious if:

• You receive unsolicited calls, texts, or visits right after your accident
• A stranger claims you have a medical appointment you never scheduled
• Someone offers you money, gifts, transportation, or “help getting paid fast.”
• You are pressured to sign immediately
• You are pushed toward one specific clinic, chiropractor, tow company, or lawyer
• They refuse to explain who they are or how they got your information
• They promise quick money or a guaranteed settlement

If it feels wrong, trust your instincts.

What To Do If You Are Solicited After an NYC Accident

1) Do not sign anything

Do not sign a retainer agreement, medical paperwork, or funding contract on the spot.

2) Do not share details

Please don’t discuss your injuries, treatment, insurance, or the facts of the accident.

3) Choose your own medical providers

Your care should be based on medical necessity and your recovery, not someone’s referral pipeline.

4) Document everything

Save names, phone numbers, company names, messages, and business cards. Write down dates, times, and what was offered.

5) Speak with a trusted NYC personal injury lawyer immediately

Ethical guidance early on can stop harassment, prevent mistakes, preserve evidence, and protect your claim.

If you already signed something under pressure, you may still have options. Please do not assume it is too late.

Ethical Representation for NYC Injury Victims: Greenstein & Pittari, LLP

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we do not chase clients. We earn trust through preparation, results, and client care.

We represent serious injury victims throughout New York City and beyond, including:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• The Bronx
• Staten Island
• Yonkers
• Nassau County

We handle cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents
• Construction accidents
• Slip and fall injuries and unsafe property conditions
• Catastrophic injury claims
• Wrongful death lawsuits

When you contact our firm, you get:

• A free consultation
• Clear answers and a realistic case evaluation
• Direct communication and respect
• A legal strategy built for maximum recovery
• No fee unless we win (Our Fee Guarantee)

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) Today

If you were injured in New York City and someone is calling, texting, showing up, offering money, or steering you toward a clinic or lawyer, you do not have to deal with it alone.

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
Contact Greenstein & Pittari, LLP online for a FREE consultation.
The call is free
The consultation is free.
You do not pay unless we are successful

Greenstein & Pittari’s motto is “Don’t Be a Victim Twice.”

FAQ: Ambulance Chasers, Runners, Illegal Solicitation, and Accident Scams in NYC

What is an ambulance chaser?

An ambulance chaser is a lawyer or someone working for a lawyer who uses aggressive, unethical, or illegal solicitation to get accident victims to sign up as clients, often immediately after an injury.

Are runners illegal in New York?

New York has strict laws and professional rules regarding solicitation, improper referrals, and fee-sharing. Many running tactics can violate ethical rules and may also violate criminal statutes, depending on the circumstances.

What is a runner in a personal injury case?

A runner is a person paid or incentivized to locate accident victims and steer them to a particular lawyer, clinic, or service. They profit from selling your case and controlling your medical referrals.

How did these people get my information so quickly?

They may monitor police scanners, pull accident reports, track social media posts, use public databases, or obtain information through questionable channels tied to hospitals, towing, dispatchers, or repair shops.

Is it illegal for a lawyer to contact me directly after an accident?

It can be unethical or illegal depending on how, when, and why the contact was made. In-person solicitation and third-party runner solicitation are major red flags, especially in hospitals and homes.

Is it a red flag if a lawyer contacts me first?

Yes, especially if the contact is urgent, aggressive, or involves pressure to sign immediately. Ethical law firms build cases through reputation and legal advertising, not direct solicitation.

Why do runners push specific clinics or chiropractors?

Because some operations are built around a referral pipeline, the goal is often to maximize billing and generate fees, not to provide appropriate, medically necessary care.

Do Corrupt Medical Clinics Hurt Your Case?

Yes. Insurance companies view the involvement of dishonest healthcare providers as a significant red flag for fraud, undermining your treatment and your case, even if your injuries are genuine.

What if a tow truck driver refers me to a lawyer or clinic?

Be cautious. Some towing and repair operations are connected to referral networks and kickbacks. You always have the right to choose your tow company, repair shop, doctor, and lawyer.

What if someone offered me money to sign with a lawyer or clinic?

That is one of the most evident warning signs. Please don’t sign anything and speak with an independent NYC personal injury attorney right away.

Are settlement advances always scams?

Not always, but many are predatory and charge extremely high fees. Even legitimate funding can cost far more than people realize. Could you speak with a lawyer before signing any advance agreement?

What should I do if someone claims to be a witness and wants to help?

Please don’t share personal information or sign anything. If they pressure you to provide full contact details, ask for them and verify identity independently. If they persist, disengage, and document the interaction.

What if I already signed paperwork under pressure?

You may still have options. A trusted attorney can review what you signed, explain your rights, and help you make a safe plan moving forward.

How soon should I speak with a NYC personal injury attorney after an accident?

As soon as you can. Early legal guidance helps preserve evidence, protect your claim, and stop predatory solicitation networks from taking control of your case.

How can Greenstein & Pittari help if I am being targeted?

We can explain what is happening, stop harassment, protect you from scams and fraud risk, handle insurers, preserve evidence, and pursue full compensation with ethical representation from day one.

Get Trusted Help Today From Greenstein & Pittari, LLP

If you were injured in New York City and want guidance you can actually trust, talk to a real legal team today.

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
Contact Greenstein & Pittari, LLP online for a FREE consultation.

No pressure. No gimmicks. Just experienced help when you need it most.