Filing A Lawsuit Without A Lawyer: The Risks
This article offers the reader useful information about the risks involved with filing a lawsuit without the counsel of a lawyer.
The law is incredibly complex, regardless of where you live and it can be a big mistake to file a lawsuit if you have had no legal advice. Any form of litigation, whether it be a defamation case, a business conflict or the recovery of a personal loan, puts the party that files the lawsuit at risk of failing to be able to prove the charge, which means the other party wins the case, leaving the one who filed the lawsuit with a big legal bill for both sides.
When most people think of filing a lawsuit, they automatically assume that they need to hire a lawyer. However, this is not always the case. Depending on the nature of your claim and the amount of money you are seeking in damages, you may be able to file a lawsuit without a lawyer. But before you decide to represent yourself in court, there are some risks you should be aware of.
You might be very emotional about something and you are suddenly gripped with the idea of filing a lawsuit and thinking you will win, you don’t bother hiring a lawyer. After you have calmed down, you realise that you might not be doing the right thing, but if the lawsuit was filed, then the process begins and that could spell disaster. If you are located in Thailand, talking to a Bangkok litigation law firm prior to doing anything is the smart thing to do; that way, you won’t make any rash decisions. An online search would make it easy for you to locate reputable lawyers in your area.
Losing The Case
The worst-case scenario is to file a civil lawsuit and end up losing the case, which would mean that you pay both sides legal costs and it may also involve issuing a public apology, if it is a defamation case.
Of course, there are many reasons a person would wish to file a litigation lawsuit, such as:
- Business conflict
- Defamation
- Personal injury
- Personal debt
- Contractual issue
- Employment laws
In order to avoid being on the losing end of a lawsuit, make sure that you always consult an experienced lawyer before doing anything. The legal expert can lay out the implications and options, enabling you to make informed decisions.
It’s All About Evidence
As you may have heard, winning a civil litigation case is all about the evidence, or lack of it, as the case may be. You need to prepare your case and that is where your lawyer’s skills come into play. A good litigation lawyer can generally predict the outcome of a case, once they know the fine details. Some lawyers will take a case on a ‘no win-no fee’ basis, depending on their assessment after an initial free consultation. You should listen to your lawyer regarding potential legal action and this should ensure you make wise decisions.
Head Rules The Heart
This is the way to be when you have the feeling to file a lawsuit against someone and prior to making any decision, talk to an experienced litigation lawyer and see what they have to say. As mentioned above, it is all about evidence, not about right or wrong and if you cannot produce strong evidence to substantiate your claim, you could be on the losing side. There is no place for emotion in legal proceedings, as any good lawyer would confirm.
Thailand, much like other nations, has its own unique litigation laws and if you are thinking of filing a lawsuit, make sure that you first consult with an experienced litigation lawyer.
