When you think of the legal system and court rooms, you probably think of more serious of crimes. You think about the murder trials you watch on TV. You think of the dramatic divorce cases in soap operas. You might even think about criminal cases in sitcoms you watch. However, the real court room is a bit milder than most of those televised court shows. A majority of the cases that are seen in a court room are civil cases. These are cases that involve misdemeanors or routine traffic violations. They are not people that are risking jail time, instead are attempting to lower their sentences or their fines.
Even when you are charged with a civil sentence, it may be beneficial to hire a professional attorney. You probably think that a professional attorney will only handle cases that involve more serious of crimes, like drug charges, murder charges or criminal intent charges. However, because there are so many civil charges today, a lawyer will also work on smaller, more civil type cases to increase their case load.
The annual cost of civil lawsuits to the U.S. economy is $239 billion. (Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2015). If you have ever received a ticket or a misdemeanor charge, you are aware that they can get quite expensive as well. You may be charged hundreds of dollars for something as simple as turning the wrong way on a street that you were unfamiliar with. It may also go onto your permanent record, counting as a prior should you ever get into felony trouble. Additionally, if your car insurance picks up the charge, they are likely to raise your car insurance rates for many years. A professional attorney has the ability to get your charges reduced, and possibly even your charge dropped from your driving record.
There are many new laws surrounding cell phone usage while driving. People are using their cell phones more than ever, which are causing distractions. At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving. There is no question as to if cell phones can be a distraction and be dangerous while driving, but in some cities, you can receive a ticket even fore answering the phone. This could come with large fees and a court date. A professional attorney at your local law firm could help to reduce a charge like this.
There may also be more serious of cases that do not result in a felony charge, but require the services of a professional attorney. If you were the cause of a car accident, you are likely being sued. This is especially true is a brain injury or any type of injury was sustained by any one of the passengers. You are likely to receive some type of ticket, as well as the possibility of being sued. Being sued could cause you to lose your car, your home and even your job. Without a job, you may not be able to pay off all of your fines. A malpractice lawyer may be helpful reducing your financial responsibility or help you in keeping your job.
Brain injuries are common injuries as a result of a car accident. An estimated 1.7 million people sustain a TBI (traumatic brain injury) annually. Out of them, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized and out of 1.365 million, nearly 80% are treated and released from an emergency department.
The majority of cases that a court room sees are civil. They are minor traffic incidents or misdemeanor charges. It can actually be beneficial to utilize the services of a professional attorney in order to reduce the costs of the charge, the existence of the driving record and the possibility of being sued. A lawyer will act as a consultant, providing you with necessary information.
