Ask FOFC: Strange calls after accident

[Draft Dodger]

Backstory: Sunday morning we were traveling in NY and were involved in a fairly serious accident. Thankfully, we walked away unscathed (the car was totaled) but there were two other cars involved and three people were transported from the scene; I don't know anything about their status although the police did say they were going to be okay. We were transported also, the kids were checked out and then we left, got a rental car and came home.

Yesterday, someone from a Brooklyn # called and talked to my wife. She gave her name but no other details. She asked something along the lines of if we were receiving good care or still receiving care. My wife got a little suspicious and didn't give much info. I googled the number and didn't get much except that it appears to be a cell. We got another call a few hours later, different number, Bronx exchange. This one she didn't answer and they didn't leave a message.

My first thought is that it was a reporter - this was on one of the local news stations (thanks to a camerawoman on scene). It was a bit sensational in that one of the cars almost went over the edge of an overpass and in doing so knocked part of the guardrail onto a car below. So I can see where there would be some small level of interest in someone tracking down a followup.

If that's the case, I'm not too concerned. We're not giving any information and I would expect interest to subside quickly. But my suspicious brain is trying to conjure up other reasons. Could it be lawyers, for example? My biggest fear is some sort of identity theft thing - someone got some information from us or our car (which was towed to some lot down there) and is phishing for identity info. That seems silly now that I type it, but who knows?

Anyone have any other thoughts on what may be behind these calls? I am nervous as no matter what it feels like someone fishing for information

[Butter]

Ambulance chasers, most likely.

[DaddyTorgo]

I thought of you this morning - got a text from my sister that some asshole ran a red light and plowed into the side of their minivan (with my sis and her husband and the 3 kids in it) and totaled it. Everyone was ok thankfully, but I was like "damn...DD just had an accident too...wtf is going on." And then on my way to work I almost witnessed another one where some idiot blew through a 4-way stop out-of-turn and almost took out someone who was taking a left into a driveway right on the other side of the stop..

[flere-imsaho]

First of all: glad to hear you & the family are OK!

Secondly, my thinking is that insurance or reporters would identify themselves.

So yes, I'd suspect lawyers.

Edit: Or investigators being retained by lawyers.

[boberot]

I was in an accident a few years ago and was advised to get a lawyer right away. He told me to give NO information to ANYBODY. He predicted correctly that lawyers for the other guy would call, not identify themselves, and ask seemingly innocuous questions such as "how are you?" If I were to answer with the reflexive "fine" or "ok" he said they would try to use that against me. FWIW.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by boberot

I was in an accident a few years ago and was advised to get a lawyer right away. He told me to give NO information to ANYBODY. He predicted correctly that lawyers for the other guy would call, not identify themselves, and ask seemingly innocuous questions such as "how are you?" If I were to answer with the reflexive "fine" or "ok" he said they would try to use that against me. FWIW.

This is spot on...

And most of all glad everyone is OK.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

This is spot on...

And most of all glad everyone is OK.

+1

[Draft Dodger]

well I wasn't planning to get a lawyer. We're working with our insurance company and I can't think of why I would need a lawyer unless I get sued.

[PackerFanatic]

Nothing to add, aside from I am glad everyone is okay!

[Warhammer]

Yes, lawyers and ambulance chasers. My wife had a minor incident a few years back, and we were inundated by seemingly random calls the next few weeks.

[Lathum]

It is 99.999999% ambulance chasers. Once a police report is filed it becomes public record. Ambulance chasers monitor them very closely, get your info, and pounce. They can be very persistent and predatory. I see it almost daily.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Ditto on the ambulance chaser hypothesis.

As a former reporter I can virtually assure you that if it were a media follow up you would have known who they were pretty much immediately.

[Draft Dodger]

thanks everyone (for the advice and the well wishes). Ambulance chasers make a lot more sense.

[korme]

What in pluperfect hell is an ambulance chaser?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by korme

What in pluperfect hell is an ambulance chaser?

"Have you been in an auto accident? Don't suffer without compensation. Call the law offices of Dewey, Screwum and Howe and get what's coming to you."

You know, the lawyers on the back of your telephone book.

[kcchief19]

Yeah, if you're getting calls that quickly I would think they are ambulance chasers fishing for a client. Could also absolutely be investigators affiliated with insurance company involved too, but that seems pretty quick. Ambulance chasers are generally faster than the insurance companies.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Could also absolutely be investigators affiliated with insurance company involved too, but that seems pretty quick.

While nothing is impossible, highly, highly unlikely.

Anyone from an insurance company would immediately introduce themselves and their purpose for calling. Plus their return number likely wouldn't be a cell phone.

Glad you and the family are ok DD. If you have any insurance related questions feel free to PM me. I work for one of the big companies.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You know, the lawyers on the back of your telephone book.

What in pluperfect hell is a "telephone book???"

[Butter]

My wife was in a hit-and-run about a month ago. We didn't get any info off the offender, so he/she basically got away with it.

However, within a week, we had gotten multiple mailings from local lawyers, including one that included a copy of the police report.

A little creepy.

[SteveMax58]

This thread made me think "Seven days......"

Glad to hear everybody is alright.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

What in pluperfect hell is a "telephone book???"

HAHA

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

What in pluperfect hell is a "telephone book???"

Somehow I knew that was coming from somewhere