Most people have seen the many crime dramas on television that depict lawyers defending people who’ve been accused of crimes in court.
Due to the popularity of these dramas, most people now have a somewhat warped view of what a lawyer actually does. They think that law is all about standing up in court to defend potential criminals and fight for justice.
While this is definitely true for some lawyers, criminal defense law is just a small area of the field. There are many more law specialties and there are hundreds of reasons why someone might need to hire a lawyer aside from if they’re accused of a crime.
So, when might you need to hire a lawyer? To put it simply, you will need a lawyer any time you want to take legal action against an individual or organization.
Because there are so many different specialties in law, the type of lawyer that you hire depends on the nature of your situation. If you are unsure which type of lawyer you need, this article should help you out.
Here are some of the common reasons why people hire a lawyer. If you are facing any of the issues mentioned in this article, make sure to check the website of your local law firms to see if they offer the right services for your needs.
To Resolve Family-Related Issues
We all have to deal with family issues at some point in our lives.
Many of these issues can easily be resolved by talking things through with our relatives and coming to a mutual agreement. However, sometimes you can’t reach an agreement and you need to take legal action to settle things.
Family lawyers deal with any family-related problems. Most commonly, these problems revolve around divorce, child custody battles, and child welfare issues. Family lawyers can also be involved in adoption, guardianship, and emancipation processes.
If you are currently going through any of these situations, a family lawyer may help to settle things quickly and easily with you and your partner or relatives.
After an Accident at Work
Millions of accidents occur in the workplace every year. Many of these accidents are due to another person’s negligence or due to inadequate health and safety measures being implemented in the work area.
If you have had an accident and suffered mild or severe injuries while at work, contacting a personal injury attorney may be necessary. A personal injury lawyer specializes in helping people to get compensation after an accident.
This compensation is usually monetary to cover your physical or emotional trauma and any financial losses that are associated with your injuries.
For example, if you have received a hefty medical bill after being treated in a hospital for your injuries, your compensation may cover these bills.
Similarly, if you have had to take a significant amount of time off work and you have not been able to earn your usual monthly wage, your compensation should cover this too.
In order to gain compensation for your injuries and financial losses, you will need to hire a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will work closely with you to create a strong case that will win your claim in court.
To Help Run a Business
Many people don’t realize that business owners often hire lawyers as part of their team. Although most businesses will not necessarily need to take legal action on a regular basis, it’s always helpful for an attorney to be on hand just in case.
Business lawyers, sometimes called corporate lawyers, can help to settle claims made by previous or existing employees. They can also settle any contracts disagreements between the businesses they work for and their partners or clients.
If you are a business owner, you might find it helpful to hire a corporate lawyer to contribute to the creation of contracts, revision of legal documentation, and even managing your budget.
There are many legal rules and regulations that must be followed when you’re running a successful business. Your lawyer will be able to run through anything that you don’t quite understand to ensure that you are staying on the right side of the law.
Estate Planning Lawyer
If you need legal help with the management and distribution of your personal assets or the assets of somebody in your family, you may need to hire an estate planning lawyer.
Knowing how to properly handle assets can be difficult. There are often a lot of tax issues or legal details that are easy to overlook if you aren’t trained in this area of the law.
When somebody passes away and leaves a will, there can often be disagreements between remaining family members. Certain relatives may dispute the details of the will, claiming that they deserve more of their loved one’s assets and belongings.
Disagreements over wills can put a lot of strain on families who are trying to grieve the loss of their loved ones at the same time. Hiring an estate planning lawyer can help to resolve disagreements quickly and easily.
Estate planning lawyers can assist in the division and distribution of a client’s assets. They can draft and prepare legal documentation and may be involved in the courthouse hearings if necessary.
After Being Bitten by a Dog
Although most dogs are extremely friendly and playful, they can also be unpredictable. Millions of people get bitten by dogs every year and are left with temporary or permanent injuries.
Depending on the severity of the bite, people may be left with scarring, muscle damage, and nerve damage. In severe cases, there may even be bone damage.
In the event of a dog bite, you may need to hire an attorney who specializes in dog bites. If you have been bitten due to the dog owner’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries.
In this case, you will be claiming against the owner of the dog and your dog bite lawyer will be able to help you with this claim. They will liaise with your insurance company and will help to fight your case in court if necessary.
