Waiting too long to talk to a lawyer can make cases more complicated, and even lead to lost opportunities. With that in mind, let’s take a look into some situations that are good reasons for you to contact a specialized lawyer as soon as possible.
If you want to ensure a smooth transfer of your assets to your heirs and minimize tax liabilities, it’s crucial to contact an estate planning lawyer as soon as possible.
1. You’ve been injured in an accident
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s mistake or neglect, it’s a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Even if you ultimately end up deciding not to pursue a lawsuit, getting a consultation with a personal injury attorney will help you figure out how strong a case you have, and whether or not pursuing a lawsuit is worth it. Contacting a lawyer may help you find out that the party behind your injury has a history of neglect, for example, which can factor into your decision of how to proceed after the injury.
Just make sure you choose a law firm with experience relevant to your case when looking for a consultation. A sports injury lawyer won’t necessarily be able to help you after a car accident, and choosing the right law firm from the start will save you time and effort.
2. You injured someone else in an accident
Reasonable and well-intentioned people can still end up accidentally hurting other people. If you find yourself in that situation, it’s a good idea to talk to your lawyer. Even if you don’t believe a lawsuit is likely, talking to a lawyer will still be useful, as they can tell you how to proceed and what you should and shouldn’t do to prevent issues down the line. Remember: talking to a lawyer is not an admission of guilt.
3. You’re having trouble at work
There are laws set in place to protect workers from harassment, discrimination, safety hazards, and unreasonable demands. So if you find yourself in a toxic work environment or the subject of harassment of any kind, it’s a good idea to have a sit down with an employment lawyer. Getting a consultation will help you learn what your rights are under both federal and local laws. And that gives you leverage.
More often than not, just showing that you know your rights and are ready to sue the company can be enough to make toxic employers back off.
4. You want to secure your inheritance
Estate planning, wills, and inheritance are all issues that specialized lawyers can help you with. From setting up trusts to creating LLCs, lawyers have plenty of tools at their disposal to make sure your heirs will be able to have access to your wealth in the future. And they can help you secure your savings and retirement fund as well.
5. A divorce is on the horizon
Sometimes you just know that a divorce is coming. It could be because you’re planning to initiate the process yourself, or because your spouse let the idea slip to a relative who then told you. Regardless, one of the best times to contact a divorce or family law attorney is before the divorce process even starts.
The attorney can guide you through the process of getting a divorce in your state, which will help you start the process with realistic expectations and your priorities in order. And if you’re afraid your spouse may try to hide their wealth from you once the process starts, a good lawyer will have advice on how you can prevent that as well.
