How to Represent Yourself in a Truck Accident Case

Representing yourself in any kind of legal issue without the advantage of legal counsel is referred to as acting "Pro Se". Pro Se (pronounced 'pro say') literally means "on one's own benefit" -- you choose to act on your own without hiring a lawyer.

Legal self representation applies to more than simply court proceedings; actions like creating a Last Will and Testament, filing a Deed, handling your own Divorce or filing for Bankruptcy all come under the pro se class, provided you complete the legal types and file the paperwork without the help or representation of an attorney.

WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE REPRESENT THEMSELVES?

A variety of bar associations and legal organizations have conducted studies of selfrepresented litigants, and these studies show that a broad variety of people rely upon themselves for handling their legal problems

o Persons with less than average incomes are more likely to represent themselves in a truck accident lawsuit.

o A significant part of self-represented persons report they might have afforded to hire a lawyer to represent them, but that they chose to not do so.

o Some studies demonstrate that those who represent themselves are far more prone to be satisfied with the legal process than those who are represented by lawyers.

o Three quarters of those who represented themselves in court said they would do it again before they hired an attorney.

WHY DO INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES?

Likewise, the factors that individuals offer for representing themselves in legal issues are as much as they are varied:

O Many feel that lawyers do not deliver quality services, fail to return phone calls, and treat their customers in an unfriendly or unprofessional manner

o People understand their own situation best and believe they are in the top position to address any problems that may face

o For many, their cases or situations are simple enough to manage themselves or include simple legal document preparation and filing

o People need to take charge of their own lives, conditions and scenarios

OR WISE?

In every state in the United States, individuals are allowed to represent themselves inside the courtroom and/or to manage their own legal issues without the aid of a lawyer. (This doesn't imply, however, that non-lawyers can act for or with respect to any other individual or even represent a corporation or limited liability company that they own; to do this, one must become a licensed attorney.)

Lawyers frequently imply that one is "absurd" for representing one's self, whether in court or for transactional or alternative legal issues. However, those armed with the correct details and technologies -- like the appropriate legal forms and legal documents -- also the desire to address their own legal issues can achieve the same results themselves as they might with a lawyer. Of equal value, those persons can save themselves hundreds -- if not thousands -- of dollars in the process.

WHAT RESOURCES EXIST TO ASSIST A MAN SELF-REPRESENT?

In many cases, the very same result could be achieved by individuals seeking the assistance of an attorney by getting, completing and filing / recording together with the appropriate court or government entity the necessary valid and binding legal forms.

So just how can the typical person get access to the kinds of legal forms required for common problems like Bankruptcy, Wills, Divorce, etc. with the proper instructions included?

Most common legal issues involve using some sort of standardized legal form. For a long time, lawyers and courts have created these standardized forms and the use of the forms has been on-going, frequently with no changes in the form or file for large intervals. The usage of the forms by individuals who are not lawyers does not, in any way, make these forms any less valid or binding. So long as the form or document uses the legal "magic words" and complies with the governmental regulations regarding content and utilization, the document is effective -- even when completed and filed by a non-attorney.

Of equal significance to the legal forms themselves are the instructions to complete the forms correctly. Many times, a person may have the capacity to find a generic legal form from a government agency or court site, but normally those records won't provide any sort of instructions or overviews to aid a person complete and file them. So unless the individual has a keen understanding of the regulation and its procedures - - including any statespecific requirements that are usually not spelled out on the form - - the documents from a government or court website will undoubtedly be unmanageable for the average person.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY ?

No-one can argue there are occasions when it can be needed -- or in the very least highly advisable -- to consult a qualified lawyer to manage a legal matter. For many, representing one's self in a personal injury and medical malpractice case may be ill advised. Complex business transactions or issues involving the IRS may call for the advice of a lawyer. Likewise, if any individual has questions regarding the proper procedure for any legal issue or trade, is uncertain the steps that really must be followed to achieve a specific legal target, or has any trouble in comprehension or completing legal forms, then those individuals should seek the advice of legal counsel.

Self representation is reasonable occasionally, but let good sense prevail!