When to Call in the Big Guns {Seeking Professional Advice from a Lawyer}

Getting Past the Stereotype

"If you or a family member have been injured in a crash or as a result of using a defective product...."

When I hear these words I think sleazy personal injury attorney preying on people in tight spots. I know I'm not alone in this. In fact, you can probably recite these words and the words that follow them along with the name of a personal injury attorney who often advertises on the TV channels you watch.

Of all the types of lawyers, personal injury attorneys probably have the worst reputation. While there are some slimy attorneys (just as there are slimy people in every profession), and some of them do indeed practice personal injury law, there are also a good number of honorable attorneys.

These attorneys are there to help their clients recover money to live their lives and/or support their families after being severely injured or when a family member has been killed because of someone else's negligence.

Case by Case

The problem for many is knowing when to sue and when not to sue or even when to seek advice from an attorney. And often these questions involve a personal injury issue, but the uncertainty regarding seeking legal action may also involve family law issues, civil wrongs or even criminal charges.

I recently read an article about a woman who sued a former college professor because of the low grade he gave her in class. She claimed that grade was given based on a dispute between the two and had ruined her chances at getting higher paying jobs down the road and asserted that this one grade would cost her a million or more in lost future wages.

So....this is a not a good reason to sue {in my opinion}.

A few months ago, a friend told me about a co-worker who had just gotten a new car and then was involved in a car accident through no fault of her own. The co-worker was having neck pain and was having trouble getting the person's insurance to respond to her, but she felt bad about seeking out legal advice about what to do. She didn't want to be THAT person.

So....this is a good example of when legal action may be necessary.

Often, those who have a legitimate cause of action fail to seek legal advice because they don't want to cause trouble or feel like they would look like the aggressor or bad guy. However, many times it may require only a phone call or letter from an attorney to get an insurance company moving or stop certain behavior or modify an agreement, etc.

Our society does tend to be quite litigious; sometimes that's a good thing that leads to changes in laws or reduces future injuries or deaths through changes to industry standards or sheds light on bad practices or get the needed money and/or care that a person injured in an accident deserves or increases or decreases child support payments, etc. Other times it's a waste of money and court resources that leads to nothing more than a few headlines outlining the preposterous allegations.

Seeking Professional Advice

So, if you and/or your loved one have been injured in an accident or property has been damaged or a loved one has been killed or you have information regarding poor or dangerous industry standards or you have another legal quandary, should you talk to an attorney?

Well, to give you a lawyer's answer...that all depends... but here are a few tips for when it's a good idea to get an attorney:

1. You've been injured on the job, on the property of another (a private residence or commercial business), in a car accident, etc and the injury was caused by another's negligence or mostly by another's negligence or your property has been damaged and you aren't getting anywhere regarding a settlement of costs/damages;
2. A loved one has been injured or killed by another's negligence and there is a family to support or medical bills to pay or funeral expenses to cover;
3. The person or business that caused the injury (directly or indirectly) or their insurance company or attorney is giving you the runaround;
4. There will be long term effects from the injury that require much care at a great cost;
5. The same thing that happened to you could happen to other due to a poor industry standard or on-going negligence, etc.
6. Or another circumstance in which you are not receiving damages for a wrong done to you or loved one; or
7. You need to modify a family law order or need help with divorce proceedings or getting a will or other estate planning document prepared.

The Scoop

There are many reasons to seek out the advice of an attorney; some of them may lead to court. However, a lawsuit can be expensive, take a lot of time and cause much emotional and physical stress. It should not be entered into lightly. And yet, there are many situations that do require going to court in order to be resolved fairly.

Don't be fearful of the law or an attorney or the court. Over and out...

Anna