May the Best Solicitor Win: Why You Should Never Venture into Legal Action Alone
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009
by Tomer Harel
Key Scouts
In Tort Law heaven (i.e. The United States), any old Joe can "get his day in court," in front of a judge and a jury, even in civil cases. This is not the case in Britain, where most civil cases don't even get argued in open court. Although thousands of civil actions are taken each year, only a small percentage of them actually face a judge and jury. Most civil actions are actually resolved through mediation and negotiation or through mandatory or voluntary complaints procedures. Arbitration is also common in commercial property and building disputes.
Inexperienced citizens often find Personal Injury law an especially tricky field. There is a time limit on taking legal action for compensation, you have to know all the information you need for your claim, and there is quite a lot of legal paperwork involved. A personal injury case, whether physical or psychological, against an individual or a corporation, should only be navigated with the help of a savvy and experienced solicitor at the helm. There are depositions, proofs, claims assessment, and many other tiny details that most people are absolutely ignorant of (and most wish to remain so).
Imagine the following scenario: A nameless corporate delivery lorry slams into you on the motorway (let's say the M4), breaking your leg and wrecking your car completely. You can't go to the office for two weeks, since you're in hospital, and your insurance isn't paying you your total loss for the car for another month, causing emotional and financial distress (you have to hire a car). There is a time limit to your ability to take any compensation action against the company that owns the lorry and pays the driver. In cases such as this, a good solicitor will not only settle with a compensation for the car, loss of income and medical expenses. A good solicitor can also get compensation for the emotional distress, and perhaps even enable you to hire a driver to take you the office.
The next step is to try and imagine getting through all the legal pitfalls, while facing a team of corporate lawyers, all suited up in a defensive wall, blocking any incoming lawsuit. Corporate lawyers will trip you over with obscure clauses in the law, bury you in paper (sacrificing a rain forest or two in the process), and generally make your life intolerable. If you're already suffering from the personal injury, this isn't much help.
Another field that often embroils the poor, unsuspecting citizen in murk is property law. Considering that a great national pride in Britain is home ownership and property acquisition, it is no wonder that property disputes arise more often than not. Both private and commercial property laws are complex and convoluted, and even the smartest person on earth might not understand them if they haven't read and practiced the law. Legal transition of ownership problems and bad legal advice have crushed many dreams of home ownership, as well as business ventures and development projects.
This does not mean that you should rush off and sue your ex-boss for emotional distress because he fired you with a form letter. After all, this isn't the United States, where lawsuits appear to be some type of national sport. What it does mean, is that if facing a legal entanglement, be it property, personal injury, divorce, or some other area, find the best solicitor for you. One that is knowledgeable and experienced, and most importantly, that you feel comfortable with.
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Legal Problems? Did you break your leg and need a personal injury solicitor? Are you buying a pub and need the best commercial property solicitor for the task? Visit Quality Solicitors Today!
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