Mark Twain is supposed to have said that “The only thing I fear worse than death is being involved in a lawsuit.” But if you find yourself in one, or have a problem or a claim that looks like it is heading for litigation, where do you turn for help?

Most people have no desire to sue anyone unless it’s as a last resort. But sometimes you have no choice. You have a car accident and the medical bills pile up and you cannot pay them or your own insurance runs out. Or you have bought a home with problems from a builder who won’t fix them. Or you find yourself in a lawsuit some way or other.

Most people don’t know what to do next. Some sit and wait, hoping things get better. But the longer you do that, the more likely that the deadline for the statute of limitations or some statutory prerequisite to sue passes, depriving you of the right to a remedy. In some states, if you have a claim against a public entity (city, county or state) you have to give written notice of your intent to sue within a short period, like six months or even less. There is a notice requirement in a suit against the federal government as well. If you fail to give the written notice, the court will probably not hear your case. So you need to get off the couch and do something to educate yourself and find the right lawyer for the job.

But how?...

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