This is almost amusing..

[per_solo]

And, I think for me, a first.

I got a letter today, more like one of those envelopes that have unfolded papers in them. From, "McNally Law Offices, s.c."

Ok, what the hell is this about??

"Dear Per_solo,
According to police reports we have examined, you were involved in an accident on January 21, 2008, at which time you may have suffered an injury that warrants the assistance and representation of a qualified lawyer. If you have already retained the services of a lawyer to protect your rights or you have not sustained personal injuries, I ask you to disregard this letter"

And then it goes into talking about your rights when injured, getting your money, and has a booklet that talks of such.

I'm just amused. It didn't take long, though I'm curious how they get the opportunity to "examine police reports". I had to pay money for mine, so what the hell?

And lawyers (even the good ones, I know a few who are good, and I feel bad for the next comment) wonder why people refer to them as Ambulance chasers? Why one of the funniest characters on "The Simpsons" was Lionel Hutz...

Now, my question is...how do I find out how or why exactly a law firm has access to such police reports?

Comments

[gaelbrady.livejournal.com]

As someone who used to do court runs for the attorneys office I worked for, they send the court runner over to both the Sheriff's department and the Police station and they ask to look at the accident reports. You are supposed to choose ones where there are injuries and a certain monetary amount of damage to the car. You then use money set aside for these copies of the accident report that the law firm gives you and you get copies, which contains the address and contact information of the parties involved. You send out your letters...and there you have it.

[per_solo]

Wow. First, thank you.

Trick being, with mine, neither myself nor the woman who hit me reported injury, and the damage to either car was not extreme. Mine actually lists as under what the officer said she thought the range was, and the other woman was wanting to wipe off my paint from her car before the officer arrived. :-)

Still, good to know how it works, just still curious why mine, which seemed a very minor (if annoying) accident would jump out to a law firm in Indy. Would they have a person station going to all the local towns? Why, in this case, wouldn't I get something from my hometown? Maybe this is a new law firm (I know I've never heard of them before).

Thanks again. :-)

[cori-chronicles.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief. That's so bizarre.

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

I had this happen in Indy. It totally did not happen in Boston or here, where we've also had accidents. I find it really creepy; the letters are phrased in that seductive, "Call us and you could get a lot of free money" sort of way.

I suspect that Indiana must have looser privacy laws than a lot of states. I'm sure that law firms would be sending mail like that in every state if it were permitted.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

when the old lady hit me i got tons of those. i'm pretty sure they have access to them as public record. i'm surprised you had to pay for yours....

[(Anonymous)]

All I can say is Shakespeare had a good idea ;-)

[astria.livejournal.com]

Hmm.. *nods sagely*

Let us just say things got hinky when the state privatized the vehicle crash records management.

[crysthewolf.livejournal.com]

I wonder if they're connected in some way to your insurance company, or they have access somehow to their records?

[gaelbrady.livejournal.com]

And some law firms...who specialize specifically in law suits for car accidents may not care about the amount of damage or if there were any injuries.

And not a problem!

[per_solo]

Hmmm...maybe, but I doubt it, as I should have received similar stuff several years ago. Still, might ask my agent..

[per_solo]

*nod* Indeed it was. :-) Not "bad" per se, just odd.

[per_solo]

I've now gotten 2 from the one place (if I get another, I'll ask a lawyer about harassment), and 2 others.

Yup, fairly annoying.

Eh, from what I understand, having to pay isn't abnormal..

[per_solo]

I know a few, not many, lawyers who are actually pretty decent. Otherwise, yeah, good idea. ;-)

[per_solo]

Hmmmm...but, there's still "MY" privacy to wonder about. :-)

[per_solo]

Indy has to. And yeah, the "Hey, you may have been hurt, and entitled to MONEY".

I knew one was bad when it said it was from "Nunn", one I'm tired of seeing commercials for.

Looser privacy laws, but all it takes is one person saying "What the hell? I have a right not to be stalked by money-grubbers..." :-)