In recent years, it has become more and more common to hear stories of people taking frivolous cases to court. While there are, of course, unnecessary lawsuits, they aren’t as frequent as you might think. Unfortunately, the facts can be misrepresented in many ways. Bias, lobbyists, and hearsay have all contributed to some negative stereotypes surrounding litigation of any kind.
One of the worst effects of this is that often individuals who bring legitimate cases and concerns into a courtroom can be vilified, ridiculed and mocked by those who don’t know the truth of the situation. This, in turn, can lead others who have legitimate concerns to be wary of consulting an attorney when they need help. Here are three reasons why consulting an attorney doesn’t make you “litigious.”
An Attorney Can Help You Stay out of Court in the First Place
It is actually a misconception that all attorneys want to go to court. In fact, most attorneys would prefer to settle issues out of court and often only go to court as a last resort. The difference between an attorney helping you address your issues and trying to do it yourself is that having an attorney negotiating on your behalf gives you leverage you don’t otherwise have.
It may come as a surprise, but a settlement outside of court is usually the best-case scenario for both you and the attorney. When a case is moved to court, attorneys have to work more to prepare, you have to be prepared, and all have to attend the proceedings. This means paying the attorney for their time and you taking time away from work. If you don’t win the case, this can be financially devastating.
An Attorney Can Help You See Other Options
Many times, individuals may believe they only have one or two options when it comes to how to address an issue. In fact, they may have a wide range of options they may not even be aware of. Consulting an attorney does not always lead to costly legal fees. In fact, in many cases, an attorney can help you explore options that may lead to you not even need an attorney in the first place.
The idea of consulting with an attorney may seem like you’re taking things too far, but in reality, taking the time to consult first is the easiest way to know if legal action should be taken or not.
An Attorney Can Help You Only Pay What You Should
Many times, people can end up with costly medical bills for issues that were never their fault in the first place. If the injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence, the individual should not have to pay for them. Personal injury attorneys, in particular, can help individuals determine if their injuries were genuinely their own fault or actually the result of someone else’s negligence.
Television and movies often love to portray lawsuits as a desperate or predatory action taken by impulsive people to hurt others. In reality, it is dishonest to portray all who seek out attorneys as people clogging up the courts with frivolous lawsuits. If you feel you have a legitimate concern, it is important to move past these stereotypes and consult an attorney.
