You hope it will never happen to you, but chances are, you could find yourself in a sticky legal situation at some point in your life. There is a seemingly endless list of reasons you may need to hire legal help. In fact, virtually everyone will require a lawyer eventually.
Here are three of the most common reasons individuals seek legal protection.
Divorce
Did you know that two-thirds of divorce cases are filed by women? Regardless, anyone may find themselves needing legal help from a divorce lawyer. Divorce lawyers address issues related to child custody, child support, property division, alimony and more. Divorce laws vary from state to state and they are subject to constant change. For instance, here in Texas, acceptable grounds for divorce include:
- No fault
- Cruelty
- Adultery
- Conviction of a felony
- Abandonment
- Living apart
- Confinement in a mental hospital
DUI
Though we are all aware of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, DUIs still occur all too frequently. In fact, more than 1.4 million people are arrested each year for a DUI first offense. Across the United States, consequences vary from license suspension to jail time. In Texas, a person convicted of a DUI first offense can expect jail time between three and 180 days, a license suspension for up to two years, a $2,000 fine, and/or a mandatory alcohol education program. If you are charged with a DUI, it is essential that you seek legal help.
Fraudulent products
According to the Federal Trade Commission, an estimated 4.8 million American consumers have fallen victim to fraudulent weight loss products that promise fast and effortless results. More often than not, these “miracle” weight loss supplements and foods do not live up to their claims. Some even cause serious harm. And according to the FDA, hundreds of products that have been marked as “dietary supplements” actually contain hidden ingredients that were removed from the market because they were determined to be unsafe. Some hidden ingredients have not been adequately studied to show that they work or are even safe for human consumption. For instance, the FDA has discovered certain weight loss products that contain the prescription drug ingredient sibutramine. Sibutramine was removed from the market in 2010 because it was found to cause heart problems and strokes.False advertising and failure to list active ingredients can be considered grounds for a lawsuit. Consumers who have experienced negative health effects after taking these supplements or “miracle” weight loss products often hire legal assistance to seek justice.
Many legal matters will affect the rest of your life. That is why it is so important to obtain affordable legal assistance. Regardless of the situation, the outcome is more likely to be in your favor with some form of legal protection.