Florida Trial Lawyer Advertising
ATRA’s latest report shows that lawyer ads are big business in Florida – those ads that tell you to “Call now to get what you deserve!”
In 2022, it is estimated that $271.8 million was spent on TV, outdoor, radio, digital, and print ads for local legal services or soliciting legal claims in Florida. Much of this advertising is conducted by aggregators: businesses that recruit potential plaintiffs and then sell their information to law firms.
Florida accounted for nearly 12% of all legal services advertising spending in 2022 across the United States. However, the state accounted for a disproportionate amount, nearly 20%, of spending on radio ads specific to legal services. On the flip side, spending in Florida on digital advertising didn’t even break 2% for the nationwide total.
“Trial lawyer groups spend obscene amounts of money on advertising because they know it’s an effective way to needlessly scare consumers and encourage them to file lawsuits.”
ATRA President Tiger Joyce
“Not only do these ads contribute to a heightened burden on our judicial system, they also are often intentionally misleading and can lead to devastating consequences.”
ATRA President Tiger Joyce
A 2019 FDA study shows the real-life consequences of these ads. The report found 66 reports of adverse events following patients discontinuing their blood thinner medication (Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis or Savaysa) after viewing a lawyer advertisement. The median patient age was 70 and 98% stopped medication use without consulting with their doctor. Thirty-three patients experienced a stroke, 24 experienced another serious injury, and seven people died.
“It’s my opinion that the tone and content of these advertisements imply qualitative judgments about these medications that is just not true.
When you say call 1-800-BAD-DRUG, that clearly implies it’s a bad drug, which runs counter to current medical evidence and also to the FDA’s recommendations.”
Dr. Shawn H. Fleming, doctor for one of the deceased, testifying before Congress
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