You hear a knock on your door. Upon answering, someone confirms your identity, asks you to sign a form, and serves you with legal paperwork. It is a stomach-sinking feeling.

Getting served is just one of many signs that you may need to speak with and hire a lawyer. The lawyers at Blake and Associates Law Firm assist individuals with personal injury or family law cases. Look out for these signs that you may need to hire an attorney.

You Do Not Know the Law

If you face a legal matter and do not know the law, you are already at a disadvantage. You can easily lose your case simply by not responding to a court filing by the deadline. Hiring a lawyer can ensure you have representation by someone who knows the law.

Your lawyer will speak with you about the circumstances surrounding your situation. They will then advise you of the applicable law. You can then discuss your options and potential outcomes.

Significant Injury

If you suffered a severe or significant injury, multiple injuries, or life-altering injuries, consider speaking with a lawyer. Personal injury lawyers represent individuals injured by another party. They fight for their client’s best interests.

This includes filing a claim against the responsible party and seeking recovery for injuries and damages.

Unclear Liability

Sometimes, liability is unclear in personal injury cases. It could be that liability is contested among the involved parties.

For example, a passenger car accident involving two people driving their own vehicles. The vehicles collide and it becomes unclear who is the at-fault party.

It could also mean that there are multiple potentially liable parties. For example, in a semi-truck accident, when the at-fault truck driver collides with another vehicle.

The semi-truck driver, the company they work for, the owner of the cargo, the truck maintenance company, or the truck manufacturer could be liable.

Settlement Offer Is Unreasonable

When injured, your first step is to file a claim with the liable party’s insurance company. The insurance company will offer you a settlement amount. The general rule is to never accept the insurance company’s first offer.

The reason for this is that the first offer is typically very low. If your settlement offer is unreasonably low, speak with a lawyer. A lawyer experienced with personal injury cases will calculate your loss.

You can then use this number to determine an acceptable insurance settlement offer amount. Your lawyer can then negotiate with the insurance company for a more appropriate amount.

If a settlement can be reached, your lawyer can take the next step of taking your claim to trial by filing a lawsuit with the appropriate clerk of court.

Insurance Company Denied Your Claim

Sometimes, the insurance company won’t make a settlement offer. Instead, they will completely deny your claim. The insurance company adjusters should act in good faith.

They should investigate your claim. They should also respond to your injuries and provide documentation.

Speaking with a lawyer can help you hold the insurance company accountable when these things do not happen. Having your own lawyer puts you on more equal footing.

Your Spouse Hired a Lawyer

While technically, you do not need a lawyer to go to family court, you may want to consider hiring one if your ex-spouse did. Your ex will have an attorney looking out for their best interests. Their lawyer will know the judge, the court, and the law better than you.

Hiring your lawyer helps to level the playing field. Otherwise, you risk going up against their lawyer on your own. Doing so will put you at risk of the court issuing an unfair judgment.

Complicated Custody Case

When your custody case becomes complicated, family law lawyers in Evans, GA, can help you sort out the details. Common issues that can complicate a custody case are the parents living in different states, a parent facing criminal charges, or another significant change in circumstances.

Obtaining legal representation ensures you have someone looking out for your best interests.

Ex-Spouse Hostility

Unfortunately, family law can become incredibly emotional with negativity. Parents can allow their relationship issues to influence how they handle divorce or custody proceedings. Divorce is already stressful for the involved children.

Parents who become hostile towards each other only increase the children’s stress. Hiring a lawyer can help diffuse the situation if your ex-spouse becomes hostile.

Your lawyer will communicate with your ex on your behalf. In doing so, your lawyer can help you reach an agreement while waiting for the court to rule.

Your Children Are in Danger

When children are in danger, it is your responsibility as their parent to protect them. Hiring a lawyer ensures you can effectively inform the court of the situation with verifiable evidence. That way, it is not your word against what your ex-spouse claims.

Your lawyer can help you obtain evidence of any activity that can endanger your children. This could include domestic violence, drug use, neglect, or alcohol abuse. With this information, you can protect your children when determining custody.

Your Spouse Is Denying Visitation

Both parents have a right to visitation and custody of their children. Until the court rules on visitation, neither parent can deny the other the ability to see their children. A lawyer can connect you with the right resources if your ex-spouse denies you.

Your lawyer can communicate with your ex or their attorney to come to an agreement while waiting for the court’s final judgment.

Hire the Blake and Associates Law Firm

Hiring a lawyer can help you navigate potentially difficult legal matters. You could have a personal injury claim if you suffered an injury due to another’s actions. If you are currently going through a divorce and have children, you may need a family law lawyer.

Sarah Blake and the Blake and Associates Law Firm team assist clients with their legal matters in Georgia. Their dedicated representation helps them advocate for their client’s best interests.

Give yourself peace of mind by hiring the Blake and Associates Law Firm in your personal injury or family law matter.