Attorney Television Advertising

We have all see those late night TV ads that start with the words “if you have been injured.” Did you know that there are companies that offer prewritten and pre-shot TV commercials for personal injury attorneys? You've probably seen one of these canned ads. Sometimes a famous actor is used (such as William Shatner or Eric Estrada or someone who plays a lawyer on TV). Other times an attractive man or woman is shown speaking in front of a shelf full of law books or standing in a courtroom. Attorneys can buy these ads and then have their name, phone number, and web address inserted into the ad.

The ads usually go something like—“If you've been in an accident, get the money you deserve. Speak to an attorney for free. Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX.”

These ads are running all over the US in large cities and small towns. They often target specific types of cases such as car accidents, asbestos, medical malpractice, trucking accidents, divorce, family law, etc.

If you respond to one of these ads more often than not your call will be routed to a call center, or to an out-of-state law office that then hands off your case to one of its in-state associates. The person in the ad is not going to be your lawyer. In either scenario the attorney that you actually end up speaking with may or may not have the skills and experience that you need. Your call is simply being routed to the next attorney in line. It is very similar to some of the online services that I mentioned in the previous section.

The next attorney in line is just some attorney who has paid a fee to be a part of the network. Any attorney can pay to be on the list, including attorneys who have never tried a case in court. Many times the attorney who has paid the fee is not necessarily the best one for your case.

I'm not saying that all attorneys who use TV advertising are inexperienced or that all attorney ads are routed in this way. Do your home work to figure out the difference and find the right attorney for your case. Search the web, read articles, visit websites, watch videos, talk to friends, and visit more than one attorney's office before you make your final decision. You should not rely on TV advertising alone when choosing a lawyer.