We all know that America is home to the most controversial society on the planet. A woman spills a cup of coffee and sues the restaurant claiming it was too hot. Or how about the judge who sued the cleaners for $ 54 million for losing a lawsuit. If that’s not crazy enough, how about the concert goer, who several years after the incident, sued the rock star for falling on her and hurting her with his buttocks? You can Google “outrageous lawsuits” and get over 3 million results that include even more ridiculous stories than these. When you consider that 3 lawsuits are being filed in America every second, is it any wonder why legal plans are becoming such a big part of financial and security protection for families and small businesses? Remember, sixty years ago it was rare to have a health plan. Today it is rare not to have one. And today, many European countries have an 80% participation rate with legal plans. But in the United States, and in Canada for that matter, less than 10% of people have a legal plan.
So a law is one thing, but what about the common, everyday things that can make our veins pop out of our heads? Here’s one:
A father pays for his daughter’s wedding reception in a very nice ballroom. A few hours after the event started, the pipes were turned off. Call the event manager for emergency services, and they arrive with a portable potty. After the event, when you call to register a complaint, they offer a small refund of around $ 100, around ten percent, arguing that the event was almost over anyway. They haggle back and forth, and the owner basically says take it or leave it. The parent calls the law firm of his legal plan provider for help. After the law firm writes a letter on his behalf to the business owner, the parent receives a refund in the mail for more than half the cost.
Here’s another one:
As a neighbor walks his Rottweiler dog, he lets him run and attacks and kills another Chihuahua that was in his own yard. The neighbor quickly retrieves his dog and disappears. When they call the police, they basically tell the owners of the dead dog that there really isn’t much they can do, and that maybe they should call county animal control. The owner of the deceased dog makes a call to the attorney for the legal plan provider and is advised to ask the police to take a report and record the incident, and then call animal control with that report number to investigate. Later, when the animal control does investigate, they find that the attacking dog is not registered, they take it into custody, fine the owner and require that they register their dog to get it back. In addition, a law firm of the legal plan writes a letter to the owner demanding a monetary amount for the complete restoration of the dead dog. Complete of the owner of the attacking dog.
Having a legal plan to address little legal problems like these can be very beneficial for families, especially for the relatively small cost they charge. Most charge a monthly fee, and the average daily cost is less than the price of a cup of coffee at the local convenience store.
Most legal plan companies will generally provide you with the basics, such as phone inquiries, letters and phone calls on your behalf, contract and document review, and a general will. And some of the legal plan companies provide more extensive plans that will cover you, at no additional cost, for representing things like motor vehicle traffic violations, IRS audits, and trial defense services. And some even offer protection against identity theft.
Having legal representation in court for vehicle traffic violations – let’s call it what it is, speeding – can be really valuable when it comes to auto insurance premiums. As it was described to me years ago, “It’s the dots, dummy.” Because we all know that for every point on your driving record, or your teen’s driving record, your insurance premium will go up, if you don’t completely eliminate it. If you can find a plan that offers this coverage, and there are some out there, it could be a huge asset to your pockets.
I won’t even delve into how to deal with an IRS audit. Plain and simple, when Uncle Sam comes to call, you better answer with a tax attorney.
And as you read before, lawsuits are getting crazier and crazier. And they are being archived more than ever.
So in short, when you know that you are more likely to be in court than in hospital next year, the question is not ‘Does your family need legal protection?’, The question is’ Can your family afford no have a legal plan? “After all, at these odds, you’re going to say it’s not if you’re going to need a lawyer, but frankly, when you’re going to need one.