While many people may not like the idea of involving a law firm in different matters, sometimes it is simply unavoidable. Whether it involves your children, your car, or even your home, something may happen that gets you thinking about calling a law firm in. While there are situations when this won’t be necessary, when it is, it’s important to get the attorney you choose involved early on, and following are some of these scenarios.
Used Car Trouble
Cars are an important purchase, and many people who have bought a used one will tell you that they can also be problematic. If you went to a car dealer who lied to you and sold you a faulty car, this situation may call for a lawyer’s help if the dealer refuses to acknowledge, fix, or replace the car.
You may have also fallen victim to misrepresentation and ended up with a car that you can’t use. As long as there is evidence of losses you suffered due to this, you can successfully take them to court with help from a good lawyer. Even a motorcycle dealer who tries to swindle you can be taken to court.
Some specific instances when a lawsuit would be the right course of action to follow are:
- If the dealer made you pay more than the advertised price.
- The dealer failed to disclose that the car or motorcycle in question has been involved in an accident at some point in time, and that it has suffered frame damage.
- They did not tell you about major repairs the vehicle needs, or that it has had a faulty engine at some point.
- The dealer added features and options to the car without your consent.
- They willfully sold you a bad car.
A bad car or a ‘lemon car’ as it is sometimes called, is one that:
- Has spent more than 30 days in total in the shop undergoing repairs.
- Has had at least four attempts to fix an issue within the warranty period.
- Has had at least two attempts to fix a warranty issue that could have led to serious injury or even death.
Instead of haggling endlessly with a dealer who does not want to honor their sale and deal fairly, bringing a lawyer in will expedite the process for you.
Medical Malpractice
Good health is important, and for this reason you should always seek out good health care providers whenever a problem arises. Sometimes, however, a health care professional may provide their patient with substandard care. If you have fallen victim to this, it is possible to get assistance from a law firm. This does not only apply to doctors either. Problems with a dentist or oral surgery practice apply under this category as well.
The ideal firm will have experience with medical malpractice claims, and tell you whether your case has a time limit within which you need to file in order to qualify for a compensation. They will also highlight the factors that could work in your favor as well as those that could work against you, and tell you whether you need to have an expert medical witness to strengthen your case. If your child is the one who had to suffer from malpractice, such as from a pediatric dentist
Find out from the firm whether they work on a contingency fee basis and if they will pay the up-front case expenses so you know what steps to take. It will also be helpful if they can tell you if you need to go to trial, or whether it could be a settlement.
In order to prove that medical malpractice did indeed occur, you will need to be able to show that:
- There existed a doctor-patient relationship between you and the physician in question
- The doctor was negligent, and more likely than not caused you injury that under the same circumstances, a competent doctor would not have
- The injury you suffered led to physical pain, additional medical bills, mental anguish, and lost work or lost earning capacity
Some examples of the categories of medical malpractice are improper treatment, failure to diagnose, and failure to warn a patient of risks known to the doctor. If you or a loved one has been a victim of malpractice from an ear doctor, or a pediatric dentist, it is possible to be compensated for suffering due to negligence from the professional.
Other possible issues can stem from poor service from a gynecologist as well. Even though these issues may be personal, it is vital for yourself and others to report potential malpractice.
You may have even received poor service or materials like poor lower extremity prosthetics. Whatever your health complaint, it is wise to have it analyzed by a law firm so you can find out the best steps to take.
Home Repair Issues
For many people, the home is their pride and joy. This makes it necessary to carry out home repairs occasionally, either to fix broken things or upgrade them. While situations are different and things may go out of hand, sometimes the contractor you worked with may be at fault.
Poor workmanship can be grounds for a lawsuit against your contractor, subcontractor, engineer, architect, individual construction workers, the whole construction company, or any other party that may share liability for the poor results.
The different kinds of claims you could bring up include negligence, product defects, wrongful death, and vicarious liability of an employee which makes their employer liable for their negligence.
Negligence from the contractor could arise from the contractor using substandard materials that don’t meet industry standards which directly causes physical injuries or damage to property.
Products may have defects like inadequate warning defects, design defects, or manufacturing defects. As long as you can prove that the product was used as it was supposed to but was somehow defective, leading to injuries which resulted in expenses, you may be able to involve a lawyer to sue for damages. A few examples of defective products are broken ladders, faulty scaffolding, machines that cause electrocution, and those that have not been properly maintained.
In the case of wrongful death, the qualifying plaintiff who survived the worker will be eligible for damages which may include:
- Loss of companionship, affection, and support
- Loss of financial support which would have been provided by the victim
- Value of the services that would have been provided by the victim
- Burial and funeral expenses
Document everything, speak with different experts, and give the builder at fault the chance to right things. If they refuse or fail, you need to make an official complaint and follow the directions you get from your lawyer.
Working with a good lawyer will help you make the process short and effective, so give one a call before doing anything else. Whether it is roof, window, or HVAC repair, things can go wrong. Always work with a qualified contractor to keep the chances of problems at a minimum and have an attorney evaluate any contracts you have with contractors before you sign them.
Divorce and Legal Separations
When legal separation or divorce becomes imminent, it is important to speak to a lawyer. Even if you’re not ready to start with the paperwork, an attorney can walk you through the process and help you avoid making costly mistakes.
They should communicate regularly with you to keep you informed about the proceedings, and meet deadlines as well as provide quality work. If your spouse is not compliant, this may lengthen the process and this is not within your attorney’s control. Bear this in mind as you set milestones so you can avoid unnecessary stress because divorces are generally a lot of work.
Things like child custody if you have any children, who keeps the marital home, and alimony will need the guidance of a level-headed lawyer who will help you while working on your terms. Given the emotional and financial toll of a divorce on families, it is best to make sure it works well and ends amicably for the benefit of all parties involved.
Criminal Charges
These may range in number and severity, but one serious and common one is driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). This attracts huge fines, and carries the potential of jail time as well as losing your driver’s license.
If you are arrested for DUI or DWI, you need to contact an attorney as soon as possible. They will then meet with the prosecutor to try and bring the charges down to less serious ones or even dropped. First-time offenders will be met with more leniency than repeat offenders, but a good law firm can help either.
When looking for a good DUI lawyer, make sure to ask them questions like how many DUI cases they have handled in order to establish good communication and also know what exactly is happening. Interview different law firms to make sure you find a good fit for you. Once you have settled on one, find out upfront what the legal costs will be to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.
Hiring a lawyer for a DUI or DWI will also help you:
- Determine the best defense depending on your specific arrest details
- Review the details of the arrest as well as the evidence from the prosecution for mistakes that may help your case
- Avoid having your license suspended or getting an ignition interlock device requirement
- Establish whether your rights were violated during the arrest, or while taking tests like a breathalyzer and blood tests.
Although CBD is now legal and doesn’t qualify as a controlled substance because it does not cause impairment, some states have strict laws against driving while under the influence of THC. THC is also found in marijuana, and may contaminate CBD or have incorrectly labeled quantities which can land you in trouble when found in your system. If your DWI case involves CBD, make sure to talk with your lawyer about everything, and even let them examine the CBD container to ensure everything is in order.
It is extremely important to seek quality legal help in such scenarios because this might be the determining factor of whether you get jail time and license suspensions, or you pay a moderate fine and walk away with a warning. If no grievous harm was caused due to your driving under the influence, a good law firm can make easy work of helping you win your case.
Business Startups
In order to set your startup for success from the start, you should work with a good law firm. They will help you with legal issues like licenses and permits, as well as helping you know the form that you want your business to take depending on your situation, liabilities, and tax incentives.
When hiring your team, it is advisable to draft contracts with help from a lawyer who will keep you in the loop of all technicalities and help you avoid pitfalls. A good lawyer will help you prepare for and navigate possible legal challenges, handle paperwork including financing agreements and real estate contracts, and ensure the protection of your intellectual property.
When You Don’t Need a Lawyer
There are some legal situations you may find yourself in that don’t require a lawyer and these include:
- Civil disputes which don’t involve large sums of money and take place in a small claims court.
- When you get a ticket for a traffic fine that does not involve suspension nor affect the insurance premiums you pay.
- Lawsuits that you do not want to contest, in which you may plead no contest. This includes situations when you are sued but are willing to meet the claimant’s demands.
In most cases, the average person may not know their rights, or even the law to begin with. This is why it is best to always work with a lawyer in different situations. A good attorney will ensure you suffer minimal damages and losses, as well as making sure that your rights are protected. Whenever in doubt, therefore, call your lawyer.
