Beware of Shady Injury Attorneys: The Dirty Tactics You Need to Know About

When you’re injured in a car accident, your focus should be on healing, not dodging aggressive, unethical accident attorneys. Unfortunately, some lawyers don’t wait for you to come to them. Instead, they actively hunt for your case, using tactics that are not only unethical but may also violate legal and professional standards.

At the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian, we believe in earning your trust, not buying your desperation. Here’s what you need to watch out for.

Cold Calls After an Accident? That’s a Red Flag

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be a lawyer or “legal investigator” shortly after an accident, it’s not by chance. These calls often come from individuals who have no business contacting you. They’ve obtained your name and number through questionable means, either from leaked accident reports, unethical partnerships, or even paid contacts within hospitals or law enforcement.

This practice, known as “ambulance chasing,” is illegal in Texas and explicitly banned under Rule 7.03 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. It’s an obvious sign that the person on the other end of the line doesn’t care about your recovery, they care about your case’s dollar value.

No reputable law firm will cold-call you after an accident. If someone does, hang up and report them. This isn’t just about ethics, it’s about protecting your legal rights from being handled by people who see you as a paycheck, not a person.

Hijacking Our Good Name: A Dirty Google Trick

One of the most dishonest tactics we see today happens online, on Google, to be specific. When you search for Hilda Sibrian, you expect to find us. But increasingly, shady attorneys are hijacking our brand name by paying Google to show their ads first when someone searches for our firm.

This tactic, called “brand bidding,” involves paying extra to appear above our website in the search results, often using headlines like “Injured in Houston?” “We Handle Accidents” or “Trusted Legal Help Now.” They avoid using our name directly (because that would be outright trademark infringement), but their intent is clear: confuse you into thinking they’re affiliated with us.

These firms know they don’t have our reputation, our results, or our community trust. So they rely on deception. It’s like someone putting a fake sign outside our office to reroute you into their building, it’s unethical, misleading, and downright dishonest.

We work hard to build trust in the Houston community, especially with our Latino neighbors. When another firm tries to siphon that trust with tricks and confusion, they’re not just attacking us—they’re trying to mislead you.

If a law firm has to trick you into calling them, what does that say about how they’ll handle your case?

Targeting You Where You’re Hurt Most

Imagine you’ve just been in an accident. You’re sitting in a hospital bed, in pain, unsure what comes next. Suddenly, you see signs, brochures, or even representatives pushing you to “call now” for legal help. These aren’t helpful suggestions, they’re manipulative tactics.

Some personal injury attorneys pay hefty fees to advertise in emergency rooms, clinics, and autobody shops. They know you’re vulnerable, scared, hurt, and overwhelmed. Rather than giving you time to think and evaluate your options, they want to catch you at your lowest point so you’ll say yes without knowing the full story.

In some cases, they even strike illegal referral deals with tow truck drivers, body shops, and clinic staff, creating a pipeline of unsuspecting victims funneled directly into their firms. If a business “recommends” a specific lawyer without being asked, that should raise a red flag.

This kind of exploitation isn’t just unethical, it undermines the integrity of the entire legal profession. You deserve space to breathe, understand your rights, and choose an attorney who works for you, not one who found you through backroom deals.

Why This Matters

Choosing an attorney isn’t like picking a restaurant or a car mechanic. Your legal representation affects your health, your finances, and your future. If you end up with a lawyer who’s only in it for themselves, because you were pressured, tricked, or misled, it could cost you everything.

At the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian, we don’t buy your trust. We earn it. We don’t interrupt your recovery with sales pitches or surprise calls. And we never use someone else’s name or reputation to get ahead.

We’re proud to stand behind our name, and everything it represents: honesty, skill, compassion, and real results.

How to Protect Yourself

• Trust your instincts. If a call feels off, it probably is. No ethical lawyer should ever contact you without your permission.
• Double-check URLs. If you’re looking for our firm, always go to www.hildasibrian.com. Look for the real name in the link, not just the ad headline.
• Ask questions. If you feel rushed or pressured, that’s a red flag. A trustworthy attorney will explain your rights clearly and patiently.
• Get a second opinion. Don’t sign anything in the hospital or right after a crash. Call a trusted firm for a free consultation without obligation.

FAQ

Call the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian today at (713) 714-1414. We’re here to fight for you, honestly, ethically, and effectively.