If you sometimes feel like there's a big, bright red bull's eye painted on the back of your coaches, you're not paranoid. There is.
And it is society's worst hunter-killers, personal injury lawyers, who are taking aim at it.
The latest evidence of the coach industry's high-profile status as a target for ambulance chasing attorneys comes in the form of a Web site that claims to be a nationwide legal information service but is, in fact, a not-very-subtle marketing ploy for drumming up business for personal injury attorneys.
And the business of the Web attorneys is extracting the maximum amount of money they can in bus accident claims.
Check out www.personal-industry-attorney.us.com. Also, check the Site Map for the bus accident-specific page.
To give you an idea of the level of deceit, one of the Web pages includes a list of bus safety tips, appropriate federal motor carrier safety regulations, and driver qualifications. The goal, obviously, is to build a sense of caring and credibility. It's smarmy.
The Web site lumps bus accident claims right in there with such favorite personal injury targets as medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, wrongful death, slip and fall accidents, and auto crashes.
"We are a nationwide legal information service and we can take the guesswork out of selecting an expert personal injury attorney to maximize your accident compensation settlement," states the Web site right off the bat. "We only recommend specialist trial lawyers with many years experience of successful verdicts and settlements who are able to handle claims varying from minor whiplash, to injuries of the utmost severity, including wrongful death, brain damage and spinal injuries.
"Our specialist lawyers normally deal with claims using a contingent fee arrangement which means that if you don't win then they don't get paid. If the case is lost then you will not receive any bill for the lawyer's legal fees. Your attorney will advise you in full about the way contingent fee arrangements operate.
"We'll ensure you get a fair deal, by referring your claim to an attorney who is a member of The Association of American Trial Lawyers. Our service is completely free and you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. . . . If you complete our online contact form an expert personal injury attorney will phone you immediately to discuss your accident or medical malpractice claim. You will be given free advice on how best to pursue your claim and what actions you should take to preserve your legal rights. You deserve the best so don't settle for less."
In other words, manna from heaven is only a click away.
And what do you get when you sign up online? The world's greatest lawyer, that's what. A lawyer that cares about only one thing: Wringing tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars out of motorcoach companies. Read on:
"Our personal injury lawyers have a client-centered approach and focus principally on your needs. If you choose our lawyers to represent you in your claim they will provide committed and vigorous representation on your behalf and will ensure that you receive justice by zealously representing your legal position above all else. You can rely on our advocates to take care of your compensation claim in a comprehensive, helpful, sympathetic and professional manner.
"Our attorneys will respect your confidentiality at all times and will explain legal issues clearly and without jargon. You will be kept fully updated in writing about the progress of your claim and your lawyer will always be available to discuss your case on the telephone. Your calls will be answered promptly and faxes, e-mails and letters will, where possible be dealt with on the same day as they are received. You will receive a complete professional service from a specialist personal injury attorney."
And just who are these saintly attorneys? Good luck trying to find out. Nowhere on the Web site does it list a company name, address or phone number. It apparently exists somewhere out there on the great information super highway.
By the way, here are the bus safety tips posted on the Web site. You may want to share them with your customers:
* Don't wait for a bus in or near the street; stay safe on the sidewalk.
* Always enter the bus through the front door.
* Never stand in the stairwell or in front of the yellow line near the driver.
* Don't stand near the doors while the bus is moving.
* Avoid conversation with the operator while the bus is in motion.
* Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting.
* Stay seated while the bus is in motion unless you are holding on to a handrail.
* Never cross in front of or behind a bus. Drivers cannot see you.
It doesn't say so but you can bet that if a client fails to follow any of these tips and ends up being injured, one of the amorphous attorneys at www.personal-injury-attorney.us.com will be only to happy to sue.