411 PAIN

411-PAIN was established in Florida in 1995 by chiropractor Robert Lewin. In a 2010 United States District Court Southern District of Florida case, it states that 411-PAIN provided "assistance to victims of motor vehicle, slip and fall, work-related, and recreational accidents seeking medical, chiropractic and therapeutic care and legal advice by referring them to doctors and other health care professionals, scheduling appointments, and referring victims seeking legal advice to local attorneys."

In advertising, the company is known for its phrase, "After 911, Call 411, 1-800-411-PAIN." Their radio and television-based commercials usually feature actors portraying police officers or emergency workers urging motor accident victims to contact both a lawyer and doctor as soon as possible after the crash after calling 911.

Legal issues

In 2010, a class-action lawsuit was launched against 411-PAIN by Ganesh Sohan and Bryan Rodriguez alleging the company misrepresented the nature of their services and the compensation received by accident victims. The lawsuit states that instead of victims directly receiving the $10,000 stated in their advertisements, 411-PAIN operates by "secur[ing] insurance payments and reimbursement for medical services."

Sohan and Rodiguez's lawyers alleged that companies like 411-PAIN operate by referring them to clinics owned by the company, providing medical services that intentionally deplete the $10,000 maximum allowable medical costs that are covered by personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and billing clients for all other expenses. The lawsuit also stated that, at the time, they "unlawfully solicit[ed] clients... on behalf of lawyers pursuing personal injury claims" and "intentionally misled consumers into believing they are contacting a lawyer for legal services or a service that will explain to them their rights... when, in fact, they are contacting chiropractic medical clinics."

In 2012, the Attorney General of the State of Florida sued 411-PAIN for unlawfully misrepresenting the amount of money and compensation to which customers were entitled in their advertising and for misleading clients into believing that police officers required accident victims to call 411 PAIN after dialing 911 following an accident. The case was settled out of court, and 411-PAIN agreed to change its advertising practices and make a charitable contribution of $550,000 to the Broward Health Foundation and the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.