# Runner (capper)

> A runner, or capper, is paid to find crash victims and steer them to a lawyer, clinic or body shop. What it looks like and where it is against the law.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/runner/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

A runner, also called a capper, is someone paid to find accident victims and steer them to a particular lawyer, medical clinic or repair shop. Runners may show up at a crash scene, a hospital or your door, or call soon after a crash. Using them is illegal in many places.

## In a car accident claim

Runners matter because the person steering you is being paid by someone else, not looking out for you. In California, it is unlawful to act as a runner or capper for lawyers, including in and around hospitals. In Texas, paid solicitation of this kind is barratry, which can be a third-degree felony, and lawyers, doctors and chiropractors may not send unsolicited solicitations about a crash for 30 days afterward.

The ABA model ethics rules point the same way: a lawyer may not pay anyone for recommending them, except the usual charges of a legal service plan or a not-for-profit or qualified lawyer referral service, and may not solicit you by live person-to-person contact when a significant motive is the lawyer's financial gain, with narrow exceptions. If someone approaches you, the guide to [red flags](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/red-flags/) explains how to report it, and [lawyer referral services](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services/) describes the legitimate, bar-run way to find a lawyer.

## Example

> **Example:** The day after a crash, a stranger visits an injured driver at home, says they "work with" a law office and a clinic, and offers a cash payment to sign up that day. The visitor is paid for each person they bring in. That is the classic runner pattern, and in many states it is a crime.

## Related terms

- [Barratry](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/barratry/)
- [Lawyer referral service](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/lawyer-referral-service/)
- [Contingency fee](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/contingency-fee/)

## FAQ

### What is the difference between a runner and a referral service?

A runner is paid to steer you to one provider and may not tell you who is paying them. A bar-run lawyer referral service is an approved program that matches you with lawyers on its panel, and the ABA model rule allows lawyers to pay its usual charges.

### What happens to a contract signed through a runner?

It depends on the state. In Texas, a legal services contract obtained through barratry is voidable by the client. A licensed attorney in your state can explain the options.

## Sources

- [American Bar Association, Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.3: Solicitation of Clients](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_3_direct_contact_with_prospective_clients/) — limits on lawyers' direct solicitation
- [California Legislature, Business and Professions Code § 6152(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=6152.), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Penal Code § 38.12(f)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.38.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [American Bar Association, Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.2(b)](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_2_advertising/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Government Code § 82.065(b)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.82.htm), checked October 29, 2026