It is no secret that personal injury attorneys have a bad reputation in our society. We’ve all heard the stereotypes and jokes about these “ambulance chasing” lawyers: that we prey on vulnerable people for our own personal gain, that we chase ambulances in search of our next payday, and that we will do any shady or covert action in charge order.

These stereotypes are not only false, they damage our legal system. The legal system is what people should turn to in their time of need. And truth be told, the vast majority of injury attorneys help their clients get the compensation they deserve. People who are injured in a car accident, personal injury, or injured by a defective product turn to accident attorneys every day.

So where do these negative stereotypes come from? They primarily come from popular media that are heavily influenced by the insurance company’s liability reform agenda. TV shows, news, and movies often portray lawyers in the worst light possible: greedy and vindictive. Danny DeVito’s character in “The Rainmaker” is a prime example. He is an incompetent and unethical lawyer who frequently visits people in hospitals to boost business.

Also, the negative stereotypes come from the lawyer ads themselves. Many of these ads make it appear that attorneys are hungry for money and convince people that they need an attorney to recover millions of dollars in even the most common injury accident cases. Also, it seems that clients are judged by the amount of their settlement, and not as an individual. However, these money-hungry attorneys are in the minority. Most personal injury attorneys do not treat their clients like food stamps.

Injury attorneys not only help their clients in times of need, but their work ensures that people live in a safe environment and society. Negligent corporations and individuals are aware that they may be forced to pay civil damages if they choose not to act reasonably and safely. Personal injury attorneys are also responsible for ensuring that local, state, and federal safety laws and regulations are in place to protect the general public. These laws were enacted in response to harmful negligent behavior and ensure that people stay healthy and safe when using products that are designed and manufactured to be safe.

I can see why people believe the worst about personal injury attorneys, as negative stereotypes surround them. Admittedly, lawyers are not helping themselves and all it takes is “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” Unfortunately, while you almost always hear about the unethical attorney who stole your client’s money on the news, you almost NEVER hear about the positive things attorneys do for their clients, including pro bono work for cases where attorneys create or reduce their fees. to ensure that his clients receive all the justice they deserve. While it is true that some injury attorneys are greedy and selfish, the vast majority genuinely care about their clients’ rights and are strong advocates for their clients.

Of course, what is often ignored is that the main driver behind these negative stereotypes is corporations and insurance companies hoping to use these bad public images to their advantage. They try to say that injury attorneys and their clients are antagonists trying to profit from a lawsuit lottery, and attorneys trying to profit from their clients’ misfortunes. However, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to do what we do, and many attorneys have chosen to work with injured people because they want to help people.

There may be a time in everyone’s life when they are faced with a situation where they will consider hiring a personal injury attorney. Remember that there are many injury attorneys who will fight hard for you. You are not, and should not be, just another number or paycheck for your attorneys. You deserve to be treated with respect by a personal injury attorney who appreciates having you as a client.