Due to COVID-19, many industries have changed the way they conduct business. Law firms and insurance companies are no different. If you had a pending claim when everything came to a halt, or were thinking of making a claim, you may be wondering how COVID-19 will affect your personal injury case.
ATTORNEYS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE STILL AT WORK
Both law firms and insurance companies are considered essential businesses. When set up properly, lawyers and their teams can work effectively from the safety of their own homes. Most insurance companies are still up and operating as well. Emails, phone calls, and video chats are all being used to replace in-person meetings with clients.
MAINTAIN YOUR MEDICAL TREATMENTS
To the extent possible, continue to maintain any treatment plans your doctor may have prescribed. When it comes to a personal injury, continuing treatment can be essential to a successful claim. Check with your healthcare providers and follow their procedures for care during Coronavirus. Many doctor offices are offering virtual appointments via video conferencing.
COURTS HAVE SLOWED DOWN
Many state and federal courts are currently closed to the public, though they continue to conduct business. Predictably, the bottlenecking of the court system is causing delays. Canceled hearings and trials need to be rescheduled and decisions need to be made about how future proceedings will happen. Many jurisdictions are offering virtual ways of attending court proceedings while still following the laws and rules that afford people their rights. Exercise patience in dealing with the courts and if your case is scheduled to go to trial, check with your local jurisdiction to see what sort of rules and new practices your local courts are implementing.
DON’T DELAY YOUR CLAIM
Just because things have been delayed, does not necessarily mean that deadlines have changed. Be mindful of your state’s statute of limitations on filing a personal injury claim. You will want to make sure it gets filed in time.
HIRE AN ATTORNEY
In the end, COVID-19 may delay some aspects of your personal injury case but as of right now, it is not preventing claims from continuing. To make sure your claim stays valid, hire a personal injury attorney who is closely monitoring the situation. Contact the experienced lawyers at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC to set up a free initial consultation with a personal injury attorney today.
