Beware Of Accident Claim Touts
Someone showed up quickly after your accident offering to sort everything out for a cut.
Someone may approach you unsolicited after an accident, offering to run your claim for a cut. This is a warning sign. Soliciting legal business this way is professional misconduct under Malaysian law.[1]
Watch especially for someone at a hospital or police station. A genuine lawyer does not usually find clients this way.
What this looks like in practice
The person approaches you directly and unprompted, often at the hospital or soon after the accident, while you are still shaken.
They push for a quick signature and give you little time to ask questions. A genuine lawyer does not need to work this way.
Why this is against the rules
Soliciting or procuring legal business through a runner or agent is professional misconduct. This applies especially where a fee or a cut of the compensation is involved.[1] The rule sits in the Legal Profession Act 1976 and the Practice and Etiquette Rules 1978.
It exists to protect injured people from this kind of pressure at a vulnerable time.
How to check who you are dealing with
Ask for the person’s name, whether they are a lawyer, and which firm they act for. Then check this yourself with the firm, not through the person who approached you.
Pausing to check costs little. A form signed in a rush can be hard to undo.
If you think this has already happened to you
Review any document you signed as soon as you can, ideally with an independent lawyer. You do not have to continue just because something has started. Should I let someone run my claim covers this in more depth.
How to choose a road accident lawyer explains what a properly qualified lawyer looks like.
Getting proper help instead
If you want a lawyer to handle the claim, a licensed lawyer from an independent law firm can take it on. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), the police report status, and what the stranger offered you.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
How do I know if someone approaching me is a genuine lawyer or a tout?
A genuine lawyer does not typically approach accident victims unsolicited at a hospital, a police station, or through a stranger who suddenly appears with an offer to help. Ask for their name and the law firm they work for, and verify this independently rather than taking it on trust.
Is it illegal for someone to approach me offering to run my claim for a cut?
Soliciting legal business this way, particularly through a runner acting for a fee, is professional misconduct under Malaysian law.[1] It is worth being wary of anyone operating this way, whether or not they claim to be connected to a lawyer.
What if I already agreed to let someone handle my claim this way?
It is worth reviewing what you agreed to as soon as possible, ideally with an independent lawyer, rather than continuing simply because something has already started. You are not obliged to continue with an arrangement that concerns you.
Can a tout still get me a genuine payout if they seem to know what they are doing?
Even where someone seems knowledgeable, involving an unlicensed intermediary in your claim creates real risk, including how your compensation is handled and who ultimately has access to your money and documents.
Sources
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.