ambulance chaser
English
Etymology
The origins of this phrase date from 1897, from newspaper articles about attorneys seeking clients through targeted mail solicitation.[1] “Ambulance chasing” was one of the descriptive phrases employed by the media for this activity. It later became a derogatory term for direct advertising.
Noun
ambulance chaser (plural ambulance chasers)
- (derogatory) An unethical attorney who solicits business at the scenes of accidents or in hospitals, in exchange for a percentage of the damages that will be recovered in the case.[2]
- 1992, Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men, spoken by Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore):
- You know nothing about the law. You're a used-car salesman, Daniel. You're an ambulance chaser with a rank. You're nothing. Live with that.
- 2004, Richard Lacayo, "Court and Spark: Edwards' Legal Career," Time, 19 July,
- Republicans have tried to cast him as a millionaire ambulance chaser, the kind of man who forces doctors and businesses to pay ever higher liability-insurance costs.
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- (by extension) An attorney who engages in unethical behavior.
- (derogatory) An unethical funeral director or person who engages in the unlicensed sale of services to those who do not yet require them in an attempt to increase business.[3]
Related terms
- ambulance chasing
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “ambulance”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, The Gale Group, Inc, 1998.”, Answers.com 15 Jul. 2006
- “State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, minutes, Sep. 17, 2007” - specific contextual example.
Further reading
- Eric Partridge (2005), “ambulance chaser”, in Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, editors, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, volume 1 (A–I), London; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 27.
- Jonathon Green (2023), “ambulance-chaser n.”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang