Unbelievably enough, some people do not have a lawyer on speed dial. For whatever reason, they do not have an attorney retained even though they could be sued or arrested at any moment. Most of us non-celebrity or non-executives have to admit that this sounds familiar. So when should you call a lawyer? Before or after the breathalyzer?

Arrests. Contacting an attorney should be done before an arrest if possible. Depending upon the circumstances, one might be aware the police have a warrant for their arrest. An example would be being taken in for questioning where the police subtly mention that if you confess they will cut you a deal. That is an indicator it is time to call a lawyer. If the police end up releasing you and then charging you later, your lawyer can arrange a time and date for your surrender in lieu of being forcibly taken from your home late at night.

Subpoenas. Many professionals receive subpoenas for records or to testify in concordance with a case. Subpoenas tend to be straightforward, but occasionally lawyers try to get medical records or irrelevant data during fishing expeditions. There have been instances where a doctor, subpoenaed for records, released the records and was later sued for breaching confidentiality. Even though it is legal for a lawyer to serve a subpoena sometimes, it may not be legal for you to fulfill what it requests. This is why it is important to call a lawyer right after you receive a subpoena. They can better explain what the request is for, how binding it is and the implications.

Injuries. After sustaining a life-changing injury, contacting an attorney is the last thing on your mind. After a car crash, you will probably be more interested in treatment. Saying that, get in touch with a lawyer posthaste. If the injury was due to negligence or an intentional wrong, albeit a MVA, defamation, or slip-and-fall the sooner you present your side of the story to a lawyer, the better. Better, because the incident is fresh in your mind, witnesses are easier to contact, and there is no worries of a statute of limitation default dismissal.

In general, it is good to contact a lawyer as early as possible if you need to use the courts or need representation for a case. The earlier you make contact, the more preparation time your attorney will have.

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