When a serious situation happens in your life, you may not think right away that you may need an attorney. You might trivialize the situation as being something small to be a legal matter. However, it may be wise to seek advice to avoid unnecessary stress, time, and money later on. When should you consider reaching for legal advice? After a medical clinic stay? After the birth of a child? Here are 11 situations where you may need legal assistance.

Cosmetic Surgery

If you went to a surgeon to have lip injections or another type of cosmetic procedure and something went wrong, you may have a case for medical malpractice. The surgeon may have botched the surgery or you experienced complications or infections. You may want to seek legal assistance since there are various challenges in winning a lawsuit. The burden of proof is placed on you to prove that the injury occurred and that the doctor could have done something to prevent it from happening. A lawyer can help you gather all the important evidence you need, submit all the necessary paperwork, and argue your case effectively in court.

Because the surgery is elective, a jury may give the surgeon the benefit of the doubt because the surgery wasn’t medically necessary. Since it was your choice, you can be held partially at fault for the damages. If the surgeon you selected wasn’t qualified, it may be counted against you for not doing your proper research. While jury members aren’t supposed to be biased, it can happen in a court of law. If you do win your case, you may be awarded lower damages than you would receive if it was any other type of surgery.

Buying Or Selling A House

Buying a house is most like the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Most states require that you have an attorney present during the closing process. An attorney can review all the paperwork to spot any omissions or other problems and advise you of your options. They can perform title searches, deal with zoning matters, and handle any disputes that may arise. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by preventing problems rather than trying to resolve them after they occur.

Consulting an attorney is also ideal if you’re selling your home. The lawyer can help you understand and prepare for any tax consequences that might occur. Single sellers are able to be exempt up to $250,000 from the capital gains tax, and married couples are able to be exempt up to $500,00o from this tax. However, this doesn’t take any selling or closing costs into account. Understanding these matters and how they might affect you can get confusing, and this is why legal assistance can be incredibly beneficial.

Fire Injuries

You may want to seek legal assistance if you’re the victim of a fire or other type of burn injury. You may live in an apartment complex where someone’s wax melter overheated and started a fire in the building. Or maybe the landlord failed to keep the electrical wiring up to code. Your home’s alarm system can malfunction and create a fire. These accidental fires can leave you with lost wages and devastating medical bills as well as physical and psychological scars.

An attorney can help you receive compensation for your injuries and losses. Make sure that you seek medical attention and take photographs of your injury immediately after the damage has occurred. A lawyer can help you collect any more evidence you may need and get statements from any witnesses. They can consult with fire experts to prove how the fire started and who is to blame. They know the legal process thoroughly and can defend your rights so you can recover.

Home Remodeling

If you’re having remodeling work done and having issues with the contractor, you may need to consult with an attorney for some legal assistance. If you believe that faulty heating or plumbing work was performed, you may have options to seek legal action against them if the contractor is unwilling to resolve the issues. You may want to seek a lawyer to get your money back after a contractor fails to show up. It’s also a good idea to have a lawyer look over any contracts before you sign them to avoid being the victim of a potential scam.

To improve your chances of winning your claim, be sure to document every type of communication you’ve had with the contractor. You can send certified letters to the contractor with a return receipt requested to tell him to contact you immediately. Record phone calls and use text messaging. Take photos of the work and journal any problems you’ve had along the way. All of these things can be used in court as evidence that the contractor is at fault and you deserve to get your money back.

Car And Motorcycle Accidents

In 2014 alone, 33,736 people died in a traffic accident. If you’ve been in a vehicle or motorcycling accident, you may want to seek legal assistance. An auto accident lawyer may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries and property damage. There is a limited amount of time that you’re allowed to file a claim after an accident has occurred. You can recover lost wages and present and future medical expenses as well as payment for punitive damages or pain and suffering.

The attorney will be able to help you navigate and negotiate with your auto insurance company. Make sure that you let your attorney do all the talking with the insurance agent to avoid them trapping you into saying something that could hurt your case. Talking to the insurance company yourself can lead to a reduced settlement or even a denial of your claim. Make sure you take plenty of photos of any injury or vehicle damage after the incident has occurred. You may also want to seek medical attention to document more evidence.

Education Issues

If your child has been expelled from school, there is a process that must be followed to give your child the ability to defend themselves. You may need to seek legal assistance from an attorney to figure out your options and how this might affect your child’s future education. If you have a child with special education or disability needs, a lawyer can make sure they receive the appropriate accommodations for them. They can make sure they are enrolled in the right types of classes and make sure they are not discriminated against by the school system.

A lawyer may also be beneficial in cases where bullying has occurred. Teachers can be held legally responsible for not responding appropriately to these issues. If you’re still having problems after filing a complaint with the school, you may want to seek legal assistance to figure out what to do next. The lawyer may be able to hold the school accountable and recover compensation for any medical expenses from injuries your child has received.

Family Or Medical Leave

If you qualify for time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act and your employer denies your request, you may want to seek legal assistance. Some employers may not understand or properly follow the rules under this act. Employers are supposed to notify you of your rights and responsibilities and give you the paperwork to fill out.

You might get pressured to come back early from your leave or be denied your job when it’s time to come back. They may try to stall you from taking leave or try to deny you insurance. You could have your hours miscounted or count it against your attendance. Your employer may try to claim that your disability makes you unable to do your job or refuses to make any workplace accommodations for it. An experienced attorney is able to address these violations and assert your rights.

Traffic Violations

If you’ve received a ticket or committed a driving offense, a traffic violation attorney can either clear your name or reduce your sentence. It’s a good idea to seek legal assistance for outstanding warrants, drinking and driving charges, accidents, or leaving the scene of an accident. You may also want to consult an attorney if you get caught driving uninsured or with a revoked or suspended license. A lawyer can advise you of your options and represent you in court.

Many of these offenses typically come with a fine, which can get quite expensive and can raise the cost of your insurance. Depending on the circumstances and severity of the violation, you may end up serving jail time if you’re found guilty. A lawyer may be able to prevent you from getting convicted. They may be able to negotiate a different punishment that’s less severe, such as requiring you to go to traffic school. Getting legal assistance can help you save time and money as well as protecting your reputation. You may be able to get your traffic ticket completely dismissed.

Restraining Order

You may want to seek legal assistance if you need to fight or file a restraining order. This action requires you to make an appearance in court. There may be a preliminary trial that gives both parties the ability to plead their case. A judge will determine if there’s enough evidence to provide the plaintiff with an order of protection. If the order of protection is against you, it can negatively impact your record. If you’re an immigrant, it may affect your status.

Debt Settlement

Debt from credit cards and medical expenses can get overwhelming. Trying to manage it on your own can be frustrating. Seeking legal assistance from an attorney can help you fend off creditors and reduce the total amount you owe. It’s a good idea to consult with an attorney if you have a substantial amount of debt that you see no way possible for you to pay down on your own. The lawyer may be able to protect you from having your wages garnished or getting into hot water with the Internal Revenue Service.

If you’re thinking of filing for bankruptcy, you may want to consult with an attorney first. Filing for bankruptcy can stay on your record for up to seven years. If you need to borrow money in the future, it can be downright impossible to acquire a loan. The lawyer may be able to keep your credit record intact. If a lawyer can find any discrepancies, some of your debt may be able to be forgiven. You may also be eligible for payment programs that will keep your credit in good standing while you pay down your debt.

Social Security Disability

Filing for Social Security disability benefits can be incredibly frustrating, overwhelming, and confusing. Many people don’t know how to fill out the application correctly or submit the proper medical documentation. As a result, many claims are automatically denied. Seeking legal assistance from an experienced attorney can significantly improve your chances of getting approved. The lawyer will be able to collect all the information that is needed and submit the paperwork.

If you get denied, an attorney can represent you at appeals and help the judge understand how your disability is affecting your life and ability to work. The lawyer can also help speed up the process so you can focus on your recovery. They can prepare you for questioning and gather experts to strengthen your case. They typically don’t charge an upfront fee to represent you. If you do win, they are compensated up to 25% of your back disability payments with a $6,000 maximum cap.

If you find yourself in any one of these 11 situations, it’s a good idea to seek professional legal assistance from an experienced and licensed professional attorney. You can look online or ask family and friends for any recommendations. Many of these attorneys provide free consultations and don’t charge unless they win your case in certain circumstances. Be sure to research any lawyer you may be considering thoroughly before signing any documents. By seeking legal assistance, you can save yourself from needless headaches and stress.