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Lawyer?! I Don't Need No Stinkin' Lawyer!

February 5, 2016  |  need attorney, pro se

                There is an old saying, “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”  Even so, we regularly get calls from folks who tell us that they’ve been dealing with an insurance company about their claim for wind damage to their house, or for injuries from a rear-ender.  Unfortunately, on some occasions we have had to tell them some bad news.

                For example, have you heard about a “statute of limitations?” Just about every legal right you have can be lost by not taking the proper action by a certain time, set by law. Do you know what the statute of limitations is for a claim you want to make for injuries from the rear-ender? Do you  know how soon you have to file a claim for workers’ compensation? A lawyer does.

                Do you know that your home owners insurance policy contains what are called “contractual  limitations?"  The policy will set out specific periods of time you have to take certain actions against the insurance company, and if you don’t take those steps you may lose any rights you have. A lawyer can quickly determine what those contractual limitations are.

                Wills are pretty simple, aren’t they? Can’t you just go to Staples and buy a form and fill it out? Sure. And it is likely that you want to leave everything to your spouse or significant other. But what if your surviving spouse remarries? What effect does that have on your children? A lawyer knows.

                The Internet is a great thing and you can learn a lot about many things from it. But lawyers aren’t here to know a lot about many things; we are here to know a lot about specific things --- your rights.

                So don’t hesitate to talk to a lawyer if you have legal issues. Most lawyers will give you some time free of charge to let you know what your rights are.

Author: Arnold Taylor