Choosing a personal injury lawyer should not be done on the basis of who has the most memorable billboard. Ron Bell, a very well advertised “billboard” lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico is now being sued by a former client.
The Albuquerque Journal reports:
“The personal injury law firm started by Interstate 25 advertising icon Ron Bell and the health care company of a Colorado doctor joined forces to pump up medical costs and inflate the value of accident cases – to the detriment of clients, according to a new civil lawsuit.
The idea was to settle personal injury lawsuits for more money “and then extort the inflated costs from the law firm’s client” when the case was resolved, according to the lawsuit filed in state District Court by attorneys Rick Feferman and Bert Parnall on behalf of ex-Bell client Michael Roberts.
…
Western Healthcare sent Roberts to a physician, who billed $614 for consultation and examination and referred him for an MRI and surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Roberts’ “patient ledger,” however, identified total charges for the physician of $3,557 – the amount he would owe the Bell firm when there was a recovery in the case through any prospective settlement with the other driver’s insurer.
“The Bell firm and Coleman used, or planned to use, Western Healthcare’s phony ‘patient ledger’ to attempt to settle” the case with Farmers Insurance of Arizona – and did the same with a number of other clients, the lawsuit alleges.
Roberts learned in a September 2010 letter from Western Healthcare that it was entitled to be paid the $3,557, because he had signed an agreement acknowledging the company “provided his insurance coverage for this injury” and that it would be paid when the case settled.”
When choosing an attorney, it’s important that you choose an attorney who behaves ethically and honestly.
If you are injured, you should meet with attorneys in person and you should choose an attorney you feel comfortable with, an attorney you trust to keep your personal information confidential and who deals with you honestly.
To meet with the personal injury attorneys at McGraw Law & Associates, call (575) 323-1529.
Las Cruces, NM
