Free help for healthcare workers, in every state
Looking for a lawyer?
Most people do not know which kind of attorney handles their problem, and that is the reason good claims quietly run out of time. Answer a few questions and we will point you at the right kind of lawyer for what you are facing. It costs nothing.
Some deadlines are measured in days
If any of these describe you, act today rather than waiting for a form to be answered.
- 5–10 days to respond to an eviction once served
- ~10 days to request a licence hearing after a DUI arrest
- 15–30 days to answer a licensing board accusation
- 20–30 days to respond to a debt lawsuit
- 60 days to appeal a disability denial (federal, everywhere)
- months, not years to claim against a county, city or state agency
Every one of these except the disability appeal is set by your own state, and the ranges above are only the common ones. Exceptions usually make them shorter. This is not advice about your own situation.
What kind of lawyer do you need?
Each page explains how that kind of case generally works, the deadline that applies and how much it varies between states, and what to gather before you speak to anyone.
Personal injury
Injuries caused by someone else — falls, dog bites, unsafe property, negligence.
Commonly two to three years from the date of the injury, but your state sets it.
Car accidents
Collisions, hit and run, uninsured drivers, rideshare and delivery crashes.
Commonly two to three years for injury, often longer for vehicle damage.
Lemon law
A new or used vehicle still under warranty that the dealer cannot fix.
Commonly three to four years from when the warranty was breached.
Workers' compensation
Injured on a shift — lifting, transfers, needlesticks, repetitive strain, assaults.
Report to the employer within days of the injury; file the claim commonly within one to two years.
Unpaid wages
Unpaid overtime, missed breaks, unpaid travel time, a final cheque that never came.
Two years federally, three if the underpayment was wilful; state deadlines commonly run two to six years.
Wrongful termination
Fired for reporting something, for being injured, or for a reason the law forbids.
For discrimination and retaliation, generally 180 days to file with the EEOC — 300 where a state agency also covers it — then 90 days to sue after the right-to-sue notice.
Discrimination and harassment
Treated differently because of who you are, or harassed and ignored when you reported it.
Generally 180 days to file with the EEOC, 300 where a state agency also covers the claim, then 90 days to sue after the right-to-sue notice.
Licence defence
A board investigation, an accusation, or a complaint that threatens your licence.
Where a formal accusation or complaint is served, a written response is commonly due within 15 to 30 days.
Disability benefits
A disability claim that was denied, or an application you cannot face alone.
Generally 60 days from the date on the denial notice to appeal.
Medical malpractice
Harm caused by treatment that fell below the accepted standard of care.
Commonly one to three years, usually measured from when the injury was discovered, with an outer limit from the injury itself.
Elder abuse and neglect
Neglect, injuries or financial exploitation of an older or dependent adult.
Commonly two to three years for physical abuse and neglect; financial abuse claims often carry longer.
Immigration
Work permits, family petitions, green cards, citizenship, removal defence.
Deadlines vary by case type and some are very short.
Family law
Divorce, custody, child support, and protection from an abusive partner.
Commonly 20 to 30 days to respond after being served; many states also impose a waiting period before a divorce can be final.
Wills and estates
A will, a living trust, power of attorney, or handling an estate after a death.
No deadline to make a plan; probate and creditor claim periods after a death are strict and set by your state.
Housing and eviction
An eviction notice, an illegal lockout, or a home the landlord will not repair.
Often five to ten days to respond after being served, and in some states shorter still.
Debt and consumer
Debt collectors, a lawsuit over a debt, garnishment, or credit report errors.
Commonly 20 to 30 days to respond to a lawsuit; most consumer debts must be sued on within three to six years.
Criminal defence
An arrest or charge — and what it means for a professional licence.
A driver licence hearing after a DUI arrest must often be requested within about 10 days.
Questions people ask first
Does this cost anything?
No. Using this site is free. Most of the attorneys who handle these matters work on contingency, which means no fee unless the case succeeds, or on fees the other side has to pay. Ask about fees in the first conversation and get the agreement in writing.
Is Unified Savers a law firm?
No. Unified Savers is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. We publish information and help people work out what kind of attorney handles their problem. We do not give legal advice and we do not take cases.
What happens after I fill in the form?
We review what you send and email you the name and contact details of an attorney who handles that kind of matter. It is entirely your choice whether to contact them.
How quickly do I need to act?
Sooner than most people expect. Several deadlines are measured in days rather than years, and each state sets its own: as little as five days to respond to an eviction, around ten days for a driver licence hearing after a DUI arrest, fifteen to thirty days to answer a licensing board accusation, sixty days to appeal a disability denial, and months rather than years for a claim against a county or city.
Do I have to be a healthcare worker to use this?
No. The site is built for healthcare workers and their families because that is who we serve, but the information and the form are open to anyone, in any state.
Free legal help that exists anyway
Some problems are better handled by services that cost nothing and are not connected to us. These cover every state. Use them.
- LawHelp.org — free legal aid and self-help guides, by state and by problem.
- Legal Services Corporation — find the funded legal aid office covering your county.
- US Department of Labor — file a wage and hour complaint yourself, at no cost.
- EEOC — file a discrimination or retaliation charge; your state agency may also cover it.
- State consumer protection offices — the right office for debt, lemon law and contractor complaints.
Unified Savers is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. Nothing on this page is legal advice, and reading it or sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines described here are general rules with exceptions. See the disclaimer and privacy policy.