Recently, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman raised concerns about a troubling trend involving lawyers approaching wounded military personnel in hospital rooms and persuading them to sign representation agreements on the spot. This is done with the goal of obtaining rights from the Department of Defense. Engelman expressed worry that these injured individuals may be signing these agreements without fully understanding whether representation is truly necessary.
According to the Department of Rehabilitation within the Ministry of Defense, wounded military personnel receive all necessary services for free during their hospitalization and for the first four months following their release from hospital. While some individuals may require legal representation during medical commissions after this period, it’s important to note that there are strict limitations on the fees that lawyers can charge for representing patients during medical examinations at the National Insurance Institute. However, there are no such restrictions in place for medical examinations conducted at the Ministry of Defense.
The Bar Association has made it clear that they intend to take action against any lawyers who actively approach wounded service members with offers of their services, particularly if such actions take place in a hospital setting. It’s crucial that these soldiers receive adequate legal support when needed, but not at the expense of being taken advantage of or misled by unscrupulous attorneys.