You may think, as an average citizen, that the odds of needing to utilize the services of a lawyer during your lifetime are slim to none. After all, you don't plan on committing any high- (or low-) profile crimes, you have no need to bring a lawsuit, and you're not rich or famous. However, lawyers can and should be utilized in many, more mundane situations of everyday life, as well.
Here are instances many families will experience at some point or another in which it’s a good idea to enlist the services of a lawyer:
When You're Hurt on the Job
Except for a few outliers, no one goes begins their shift at their job with the intention of being hurt or injured. However, thousands of workplace injuries still occur, every year. If you are ever injured in the workplace, it's a good idea to find a personal injury lawyer who can help you with your worker's compensation claim. Insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying a settlement in a personal injury case, so it's important to have a little help to ensure you file all your paperwork correctly and meet all deadlines for every step. Otherwise, you could end up with a legitimate need with very few places to turn to receive assistance.When Your Teen Gets a Ticket
Traffic tickets are one of the most common ways that ordinary citizens run afoul of the law and one of the most common times when a family needs a lawyer. For any teenage drivers in your home, this split-second occurrence could have negative effects on their insurance rates for years to come, not to mention causing their current rates to skyrocket even higher than they already are.Now, this is not to say that your teenager shouldn't have to suffer the consequences of their actions if they are at fault. In many cases, however, especially when teenagers are involved, there are mitigating circumstances surrounding the traffic ticket case. If this is true of your teen, it's a good idea to at least seek a lawyer's advice to be able to articulate their case in court to hopefully have their record expunged. This will help keep their insurance rates lower while still teaching them a powerful lesson about personal responsibility.
When a Loved One Dies
Dealing with the death of a loved one can be hard enough. Having to deal with the mountains of stuff they leave behind in while you're grieving can be even more difficult. After all, if they left no will or a will that was incomplete, many of the items they leave behind are going to have to go through at least some form of litigation process to determine who will gain possession of the items. To ensure everything is handled correctly the first time, it's a good idea to bring on an estate lawyer or probate lawyer to advise you on the proper handling of your loved one's belongings.To be sure, you can try and navigate the confusing world of probate court on your own. However, if you make a mistake, you could end up paying more in fines and fees down the road than you would have ever had to hand over to a lawyer for some basic advice and guidance. Let someone else handle this big responsibility to allow yourself the proper room to grieve.
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