When Should you Contact an Attorney

Many people assume that if a certain problem isn’t big enough then the assistance of a professional attorney is unnecessary. However, usually the severity of the problem is irrelevant and to give yourself the peace of mind that goes with having a professional fight for you, you should hire an attorney. It’s more of a question of “when” rather than “if”.

So when should you contact an attorney? It depends on the issue. If you have been involved in a minor traffic violation, the assistance of an attorney is probably not needed but if it’s anything greater than that then you should contact a professional immediately. If you have been involved in a crime in some way, such as a DUI, either as a victim or offender, it’s important to have someone on your side, representing you and working to protect your rights as a United States citizen.

If you have been arrested, you should contact an attorney before talking to the police about what happened. Statements you make to the police, especially those in writing, can and will follow you to court and be used against you. A qualified lawyer will help you keep from incriminating yourself or admitting to something you didn’t do. Remember, the police do this for a living and you don’t. To level the playing field of professionals, you should contact an attorney before questioning begins. Otherwise you could wind up in more trouble than you are already in.

The United States legal system is a complex and convoluted thing. Unless you’re trained as an attorney there’s a good chance that if you attempt to represent yourself you’ll miss something. Most initial consultations are free so it never hurts to make an appointment and go through your issue with an attorney and then decide whether or not hiring one is warranted.

Anytime it seems as if you need protection from something that you can’t handle, you should hire an attorney immediately. Whether it’s for a DUI arrest or not hiring a professional attorney is key. If you have to ask yourself if it’s time to call an attorney, it most likely is.