By Sharon Jones
If you always find yourself on the right side of the law, you probably think that you’ll never need the services of a lawyer. You might not even be able to imagine yourself standing up in court with a lawyer by your side arguing your case. But don’t be so sure, because there are a number of reasons, outside of breaking the law, why you might need a lawyer. You might be suing someone else who has broken the law, claiming damages in an accident that wasn’t your fault or indeed just breaking a legal contract. Let’s look at some of the possibilities in turn and make sure that you are aware of how to handle each one and know when to call in the help of a lawyer.
Doctor You Did Something Wrong
The first reason why you might need a lawyer is because someone else has broken the law and it has negatively impacted your life. This is certainly true in the case of medical malpractice. Suing for medical malpractice means that you believe a medical professional’s actions have negatively impacted you, either mentally or physically. According to the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo there are a number of reasons why a doctor might be sued for medical malpractice. For instance, they could have left something inside your body during surgery. This is more common than most people realise and it can have lasting consequences. If a doctor thinks that the foreign object will be passed naturally through your system, they may not even tell you that it occurred. This is why if you do experience pain or discomfort after a medical procedure, you should always get a second opinion and not just take the word of your doctor who will tell you that it is perfectly normal. It is quite possible that you have a case for medical malpractice.
The damages in cases like this can be substantial and will typically depend on how the incident has impacted your life. For instance, a mistake by a doctor may have affected your mobility, and in cases like this, you can be looking at a large payout if you have the right legal team at your side. Medical malpractice cases are notoriously difficult to win because the doctor has the advantage of being an expert and can typically explain away a number of issues that may have been relevant during the case.
Injured On My Property
Of course, it is quite possible that you need a lawyer to defend yourself in court, rather than to sue someone else. An example of this would certainly be a personal injury lawsuit. People often think that personal injury claims can only be brought against business owners, but this is not true. Anyone who owns property could be held accountable for an accident or injury that occurs on it. For instance, you might decide to invite a neighbor round through the winter months. If it’s icy and they slip and fall on your driveway, they could potentially sue you for damages. This is due to the fact that you are responsible for making sure that your property is safe. It would be a difficult lawsuit for your neighbor to win, though certainly not impossible particularly since you invited them round in the first place. This is different from the postman slipping trying to deliver a letter. However, it is the reason why you should always clean up spills if you have guests round to your home, even if they are friends or family.
A lawyer will help you defend yourself in this type of situation and make sure that you are not sued for all you are worth. Remember, in the case of premises liability, ignorance is not an excuse. You cannot simply claim that you were unaware that the driveway was icy.
Of course, this is a two-way street. So, if you are on someone else’s property, their floor is wet, and you slip, you are entitled to sue them for damages. Particularly if you have sustained an injury that is going to impact your life.
The Unlucky 50%
That’s roughly how many marriages end in divorce these days, and if you are one of the unlucky ones, you will certainly need a lawyer because divorces can get quite ugly. Particularly if there was no prenup written up before the marriage. In the cases where this is true, your partner could theoretically argue that they have a right to fifty percent of your financial assets, regardless of how much money they brought into the household.
A lawyer will be able to argue your case and make sure that you do not end up with nothing or indeed, less than you deserve. Be aware that the more financial assets you have, the more important a skilled lawyer becomes to protect them. Using a legal service, you also have the potential of keeping divorce proceedings amicable, rather than becoming a mess of arguments, complaints and accusations.
Petty Crimes
We suspect that you wouldn’t consider someone speeding on the highway a criminal. Nor would you consider someone who has downloaded a movie that they didn’t pay for online a thief. However, in the eyes of the law, that is exactly what these people are. If you break traffic law, you are still on the wrong side legally and downloading a movie can be seen in the same light as breaking into a home. If you don’t believe this, just research the fines and the sentences attached to this crime. As such, even if you unintentionally commit a crime, you will still need the support of a lawyer.
They will mount a full defence and make sure that you get the lowest fine possible. In fact, they could even make sure that you are found not guilty for a variety of reasons. For instance, an unsigned speeding ticket may mean that it is invalid and you can escape a fine completely.
As you can see then, there are a number of reasons why you might need legal assistance, even when you haven’t broken the law.
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