When Do I Need a Los Angeles Civil Litigation Attorney

What Does a Civil Litigation Attorney Do?

Civil litigation is an umbrella term for a wide range of disputes:

• Personal injury
• Divorce
• Protecting your legal rights
• Proving ownership of a property

Basically, anything that does not result in criminal charges is a civil lawsuit. Instead of the defendant receiving jail time or fines, they will have to pay the plaintiff compensation or damages if they lose the case.

Because it is such a broad term, a Los Angeles civil litigation attorney may specialize in one or two different types of law. If you were involved in a car accident, for example, you should find a civil attorney who specializes in car accidents.

In these types of cases, the Los Angeles civil litigation attorney is not proving that a crime occurred; they are proving:

• Negligence or fault of the defendant(s)
• That the plaintiff suffered injury or damages
• The extent and dollar amount of the injury and damages
• Pain and suffering or emotional distress

A Los Angeles civil attorney represents their client, whether that is the plaintiff or the defendant. If the civil attorney is representing the plaintiff, their job is to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the issue. The civil attorney must also prove that the negligence of the defendant caused financial damage for the plaintiff and/or emotional distress. The defendant’s Los Angeles civil litigation attorney can defend their client in a number of ways. They can prove that the incident was not the defendant’s fault, disprove the damages, or that their actions were perfectly legal.

While the defendant has a right to a civil litigation attorney, one will not be provided to them if they cannot afford one. You will need to contact Los Angeles civil litigation attorneys to see if they can offer payment plans or other arrangements if you cannot afford to pay them outright. It is important to hire the best civil litigation attorney you can afford, as losing the case will be even more expensive for you.

When Do I Need a Los Angeles Civil Attorney?

Most civil attorneys offer free consultations, so if in doubt, book a free consultation to speak to a civil litigation attorney. During the consultation, the Los Angeles civil attorney will ask for the details of the case and advise you if you need legal help and what the next steps should be.

In general, the following situations need the help of a civil attorney:

• Getting divorced
• If you receive notice of a legal claim
• If you want to see if you can sue somebody
• Starting a business
• Enforcing or protecting legal rights
• If somebody breaches a contract
• Asserting your rights to valuable property
• Writing or contesting a will

The plaintiff or the defendant may be a person, a business, a group of people, or a government entity. All of the above cases require the expertise of a Los Angeles civil attorney. Without a civil litigation attorney, your legal rights may be infringed upon.

Can I Represent Myself or Do I Need a Los Angeles Civil Attorney?

Whether you are the defendant or plaintiff, you should not represent yourself in a civil lawsuit. Hire a Los Angeles civil attorney to help you through the process. The court system is very complex, and there are a number of deadlines and motions that need to be submitted before you even make it to court. If you miss any of these, you can lose the case before it has even begun. Your civil attorney went through years of schooling and on the job training to be able to navigate this system.

Having a Los Angeles civil litigation attorney will increase the chances of you receiving an early settlement, thereby reducing your legal bills and time spent preparing for the case. They will also be able to ensure the case is handled fairly and that you have realistic expectations for the outcome. A civil attorney will be a valuable asset throughout the whole process. Contact our Los Angeles civil attorneys today to book a free consultation. If you are unsure if you need legal help, our Los Angeles civil attorneys can discuss the problem with you and give free legal advice.