Imagine working for a law firm where you’re not a lawyer, but you screen the calls, talking to potential clients. If a caller admitted that she was in the wrong, would you still take her case?

Find out how the law firm employee in this story, handled this exact situation. The caller’s tale is pretty dramatic and unsettling.

Let’s read all about it.

No, you’re not allowed to run red lights because you’re “in a hurry”

I don’t exactly work in a call center, but I do spend most of my day taking calls.

My job is essentially to screen potential cases for a personal injury law firm. This is the relatively brief story of one of my favorite calls I’ve taken.

Me will be me, PC will be potential (or psychotic) client.

This is where things escalate!

Me: Thanks for holding, this is Me, how can I help you?

PC: Yeah I need a lawyer.

Me: Ok, and what exactly do you need a lawyer for?

PC: I was in an accident.

Me: I’m sorry to hear about that. Can you tell me how the accident happened?

UH OH…

PC: Well see, I had just given birth and I got a phone call from my sister. She said my baby’s dad was breaking into my apartment and tearing up and stealing all my stuff while I was in the hospital. So I took my baby and ran out of the hospital. I put the baby in the back seat and started racing across town to get to my apartment and I ran a red light and got hit.

(A note: the company I work for only handles personal injury claims. Our company does, however, own a separate firm which represents for criminal defense. At this point, I wasn’t sure what type of representation she was actually seeking)

Me: Ok ma’am, so before we proceed can you tell me what exactly you need representation for?

PC: I don’t know, you tell me!

That’s INSANE!

Me: Well, what our firm does is represent for bodily injury claims in accidents caused by a third party. We also ha-

PC: Wait, so are you tryin to say that just because I ran a red light, it’s my fault I got hit?

(Another note: since I am not a lawyer, I have to be extremely cautious in my wording so as not to provide any kind of specific legal advice. I am qualified to provide general legal advice.)

Me: ….uh…. well, generally speaking, yes. A person who runs a red light is typically considered to be at fault in the event of an accident.

PC: So even though they saw me coming and knew I wasn’t gonna stop, it’s still my fault?

That is so bad!

Me: I didn’t say that, but that is typically how it works.

PC: Ok well in that case, I’m gonna change my story. So what really happened was-

Me: Ma’am, it’s a criminal offense to make fraudulent claims against an insurance company, and as such, our firm will not be able to assist you in this matter. For further assistance, I advise you contact the (State) Bar Association. Goodbye.

-disconnect-

I can’t promise that every word was taken verbatim as this occurred a few years ago. And I also, rather charitably, refined the PC’s speech in this transcript.

But it’s still one of my favorite calls I’ve taken in the time I’ve been here.

YIKES! That caller certainly had an eventful night, but she was clearly in the wrong.

Let’s find out what folks on Reddit think about this one.

This user thinks this client is insane for not securing the baby.

This user knows people need to stop hiring lawyers for random things.

This user knows this caller has absurd expectations from the world.

This user thinks this lady is probably still shocked!

She messed up on so many levels!

If you liked this post, check out this story about an employee who got revenge on a co-worker who kept grading their work suspiciously low.