When Should I Consider Hiring an Attorney?

Although there are plenty of resources available online that assist people to deal with many of their own simpler legal issues, there are always matters that are best handled by a trained, legal professional. Most law firms have attorneys practicing in the most common areas in which people need legal assistance.

Personal Injury

This is the most common situation in which a person requires the services of law offices in Rockville Maryland. Personal injury law covers a wide range of injuries, not all of which are physical. Some of the more frequent types of personal injury cases lawyers handle are:

• Automobile and truck accidents
• Work-related injuries
• Slip and fall injuries
• Product liability( a person is injured by a defective product)
• Domestic animal attacks (i.e., dog bites, etc.)

In addition, a plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) may be able to win a recovery for damage to their reputation (slander or libel) or the loss of a relationship (loss of consortium or wrongful death).

Bankruptcy

It is not uncommon for an individual or a business to wind up mired in debt with no clear way out. In these situations, there are several options for relief, ranging from the complete discharge of certain debts to repayment plans that make it easier for dealing with debt obligations. While bankruptcy can remain on a consumer’s credit report for up to 10 years, filing will stop all collection actions. While the U.S. Bankruptcy Code  contains nine different types of bankruptcy proceedings, most individuals and small businesses will file under one of the following:

• Chapter 7: for individuals with limited means and assets. Most types of unsecured debt are discharged in this type of bankruptcy.
• Chapter 11: Used mostly for business bankruptcies, an individual may be able to file under this provision if they are unable to qualify for Chapters 7 or 13.
• Chapter 13: Chapter 13 assists an individual with an income and assets to come up with a repayment plan for three to five years, after which any remaining balances are discharged.

Foreclosure

While many people believe bankruptcy may be their only option when faced with losing their home, there are other options. In this matter, the state of Maryland mandates that any mortgage lender who files a foreclosure must enter into mediation with the homeowner. This is a process in which the borrower attempts to negotiate with the lender — and such negotiations are best left to an attorney.