What do you think of when you hear the word “law”? A list of rules? Jail time? Lawyers? Well, it’s actually more than that. Law is a set of principles that govern society and are enforced through social institutions to regulate behavior. That means there are laws in nearly every aspect of our lives, even the ones we never realized were there! But what’s key is knowing when you don’t need a lawyer and when you do. Take the time to make sure you get proper counseling on any new legislation or legal cases before making any determinations about them on your own. That’s why in this article we are going to talk about how to avoid legal pitfalls and the importance of proper legal counseling!
What is “law”?
First, let’s start with the basics. Do you know what kind of law you would need? There are actually three categories of laws, civil, criminal, and international. Civil law is concerned with non-criminal disputes between individuals or organizations, like marriage issues or buying/selling property. Criminal law deals with conduct that is considered harmful to society as a whole and involves prosecution by the state (usually in cases involving things like murder or kidnapping). International law refers to laws governing relationships between countries, this can include peace treaties, trade agreements, war crimes, etc.
But how do these all apply to you? If you’re wondering about which category of law affects your business or personal life most often it’s generally civil law (unless you work in the entertainment industry). But, as legal experts from this Morristown personal injury law firm explain, there are also many cases where both civil and criminal law can come into play. For example, you might be illegally practicing medicine without a license, which is considered medical malpractice under civil law. Or maybe you are driving drunk, causing an accident that injures several people, in this case, you would be criminally charged for drunk driving AND sued by the victims of the car crash for medical expenses, pain, and suffering, etc., under civil law. So keep in mind that even though some laws only have civil or only have criminal consequences, it’s likely that any illegal act will involve at least two types of law!
Understand when you don’t need a lawyer
Does that mean if you commit a crime, a civil lawsuit will follow? Sometimes, but not usually. If the only consequence of your crime is going to jail for any period of time or paying fines via taking community service or house arrest or probation, then your case probably won’t go to trial and thus no criminal defense attorney would be necessary. But whether it’s civil or criminal cases where you do NOT need a lawyer? That’s easy! When you’re dealing with something that doesn’t involve money changing hands then there’s no reason to hire an attorney.
For example, if your neighbor ignores our warning about their dog constantly barking and the noise wakes up your baby in the middle of the night, you might decide to pay them a visit and ask them to try harder not to upset your baby. Don’t do this alone! Bring a friend with you (that knows how to fight, like in the movies). But don’t make it sound like you expect any trouble when speaking with them or they might be on their guard. And definitely don’t bring your cell phone, if they make off with it you’ll never get it back in one piece and that would be a huge inconvenience in case of an emergency. It’s best always to keep in mind that when it comes down to money, then lawyers are absolutely necessary!
When do I need a lawyer?
But what about more serious issues that require personal injury attorneys? If someone gets hurt on your property, do you need to pay their medical bills? What if they said it was your fault because one of your guests slipped on a wet floor but you don’t think that’s accurate? It’s always possible for people to exaggerate or misconstrue what happened. You can never be too careful these days. And even if someone is at fault, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easy for them to cover the costs associated with an injury claim. For example, sometimes victims take things into their own hands and deliberately damage another person’s property in order to make a false insurance claim against them. Your best bet is always going to be hiring somebody else who knows what they are doing so you aren’t stuck trying to figure everything out on your own.
Most common legal pitfalls
One of the more common legal mistakes that people make is relying on their own understanding of a situation and not seeking additional counsel. There are many circumstances in life where we know we need to seek advice and counsel before making a decision. For example, there are some laws and regulations that we must be aware of, but it’s important for us to understand when we don’t need a lawyer and when we do. We can take the time to get proper counseling on new legislation or legal cases before making any determinations about the subject on our own. This is crucial for avoiding such legal pitfalls over and over again!
Another legal pitfall is assuming that not understanding the law will exempt you from certain consequences. That isn’t how it works, folks! For example, if you are driving over the speed limit but claim that you don’t know why your car is being pulled over, that’s no excuse for the officer to let you go free. Get with a lawyer right away instead of trying to figure out what went wrong on your own, because ignorance of the law doesn’t save you from punishment.
The importance of proper legal counseling
It’s not a good idea to take on a role you aren’t familiar with, yet many people believe that they can learn the necessary legal requirements and procedures if they need them. If you think that affordable legal services are out of reach for you, then all it takes is a few phone calls to many law firms across the country in order to get the help you need. We all know there are some laws and regulations we should be aware of, but getting proper counseling from an expert ensures that you won’t make costly mistakes at home or in court!
If money isn’t an issue for you and your family when it comes down to hiring legal assistance then don’t hesitate. Legal cases have been known to drag on for months or even years and the cost of not taking action early on is definitely not worth it. You can find a lot more information on all sorts of legal issues online as well as through your local authorities and law enforcement agencies, so take full advantage of those resources as best you can!
The law can be a complex and confusing subject, but it is one that we all know we need to be aware of. It’s important for us to understand when we don’t need a lawyer and when we do in order to avoid legal pitfalls over and over again. With the proper counsel from an expert, you’ll never have to figure everything out on your own or rely on your understanding of the situation, because ignorance of the law does not save you from punishment! When money isn’t an issue for you and your family then don’t hesitate, get with a lawyer right away instead of trying to figure things out on your own where such mistakes can cost you dearly in time or money.
