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You are here: Home / Language / Where does the term “ambulance chaser” come from and What does ambulance chaser mean?

Where does the term “ambulance chaser” come from and What does ambulance chaser mean?

July 18, 2020 by Karen Hill

The phrase “ambulance chaser” is derogatory term for a lawyer who, after an accident, immediately seeks the person injured and, for a contingent fee, offers his professional services in a suit for damages.

This profession of dubious ethics, or at least the descriptive term, apparently originated in New York City in the 1890’s, during the period when the notorious partnership of criminal lawyers, Howe & Hummel, was entering the height of its career.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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