While there are instances where you might not need a lawyer, litigation is very complicated and it’s not something people can manage on their own, so hiring an attorney specializing in litigation would be the best thing you could do. They represent their clients in the court of law, specializing in either civil or criminal cases. Oftentimes, they also act as mediators outside of the courtroom as well, especially in situations where the legalities of the case are too complex for a layman to handle, there’s too much money involved for the parties to settle the matter on their own, or where the emotions are running too high between private parties. That said, the easiest way to understand why you might need a litigation attorney is to go through the most common cases where one is hired.
1. Building And Construction Disputes
If you’re dealing with construction projects, then most likely there will be disputes between yourself and others involved in the project. Most of the time, these disputes are over money since the building is an expensive investment. As explained by the Litigation Lawyers in the Gold Coast, developing and constructing a building as well as the infrastructure industry leaves room for a lot of potential disputes that could lead to litigation later on, and these kinds of attorneys are often hired as a preventative measure to make sure the project goes well without any hitches. Of course, if the matter does go to court, it’s always better to have an experienced lawyer on your side that’s already well acquainted with your situation because that will enable them to better assess which steps would be the most beneficial to follow. If you own or manage a construction business, then it’s very likely that you will need legal representation at some point in the future. Whether it’s to sue someone for infringing your rights as a business owner, enforcing your rights against someone trying to break their contract with you, resolving disputes among shareholders or board members, or protecting your rights against a construction accident – if it involves a building, then litigation is definitely going to come into play eventually.
2. Criminal Charges
If you or someone close to you has been charged with a crime, then chances are that litigation is going to be in your future. Being accused of committing a crime is already an overwhelming experience, but when combined with the stress of court proceedings, it can be even worse if you’re not represented by an experienced lawyer who understands the intricacies of the law. Of course, if you want to bring a charge against someone, then you will also need to hire someone who specializes in litigation. It’s important to note that even if the charges brought against you are false and you’re completely innocent, there’s too much at stake to try to handle your own defense in court. There’s a risk of mishandling the law, and while some judges may understand that you’re not an expert at handling legal matters, there are others who might not take it well if they feel like your side is trying to pull one over them.
3. Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims can range from relatively minor injuries to those that are much more serious. In the event that you or a loved one is injured as a result of someone else’s carelessness, it’s important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible because the sooner you do so, the better chance you have at filing a successful personal injury claim. In most contracts, those who suffer personal injury as a result of an accident are entitled to some sort of compensation. However, it’s important to note that they may not always receive 100 percent of the compensation they’re due – or any at all – depending on how the law weighs what happened and why. A litigation attorney could be of assistance here, not only to help you handle insurance companies that are somewhat notorious for not being too happy about paying out claims but also to give you a better understanding of what you can realistically expect from your case.
4. Medical Malpractice Cases
A specific type of personal injury case that you might want to file is medical malpractice. This is common in cases where patients are incorrectly diagnosed, improperly treated or their conditions are written off as being less serious than they really were. There’s also the possibility that a doctor could have breached their ethical duty to provide treatment in an appropriate manner, which can result in a lawsuit being filed for medical malpractice. Whether it’s an individual doctor or an entire hospital that you’re bringing the charges up against, it’s always best to have legal representation because of how sensitive these cases are and how much is at stake. In addition, in these cases, the doctor is more likely to have the backing of the entire hospital, even if they’re not the ones that are being sued. In other words, they will have a capable litigation team on their side, which means you need an experienced trial lawyer as well.
5. Divorce Proceedings
If you or someone close to you is planning on filing for divorce, then you know how emotionally draining it can be. If the divorce was handled amicably and both parties are in agreement about how to proceed with things like child custody and division of assets, then that’s great. However, not every divorce is clear-cut, and as a result, there is a risk of things taking an ugly turn. In fact, some divorces have been known to last longer than the marriage – which only shows that they can become more complex than people think. It’s for this reason that you should never attempt to handle your own divorce proceedings. Even if everything seems to be going smoothly, having a lawyer as a council who you can trust can be a lifesaver when things take a turn for the unexpected.
The law is a complicated thing, and there are no guarantees that you won’t end up losing out on important rights if mishandled or misunderstood. In almost all of these cases, there is a statute of limitation involved, which means you have to take the proper steps in a specified amount of time. Hiring a litigation attorney in cases where there might be a change of the matter going to court sometime in the future is the smartest thing you can do because it will save you from a lot of grief down the road.