Due to the Coronavirus, many industries have changed the way they conduct business. Law firms and local, state, and federal courts 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 Coronavirus will affect your legal case and settlement.
ATTORNEYS ARE STILL AT WORK
Law firms have continued to operate throughout the Coronavirus. Many firms have allowed their employees to work from home. When set up properly, lawyers and their teams can work effectively from the safety of their own homes.
If you have an insurance claim, 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.
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 mediations, virtual settlement conferences, and even 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 a court will be flexible on statutes of limitations (SOL). If your case has an SOL, you will want to make sure it gets filed in time.
MAINTAIN ALL DEADLINES
Despite the delays in court hearings, you should still be aware of and maintain all deadlines associated with your case. Failure to maintain deadlines may result in further delays or even dismissal of your case.
Always check in with your lawyer and/or local court to learn more about your specific situation. Be aware that most courts are inundated with calls at this time. Before calling, check your local court’s website first for answers to your questions.
MAINTAIN YOUR MEDICAL TREATMENTS
When it comes to personal injury cases, continuing treatment can be essential to a successful claim. To the extent possible, continue to maintain any treatment plans your doctor may have prescribed. Check with your healthcare providers and follow their procedures for care during Coronavirus. Many doctor offices are offering virtual appointments via video conferencing.
HIRE AN ATTORNEY
The Coronavirus may delay some aspects of your legal case, but it is not preventing cases and settlements from moving forward. To make sure your claim stays valid, hire an 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 Lawyers Phoenix, AZ recommends today.
