How Will Covid19 Impact My Personal Injury Case?

Our country has seen dramatic changes in the past weeks due to COVID-19. This leaves many wondering what impact this global pandemic could have on their personal injury cases.

We understand these are unprecedented circumstances, but we want to remind you that if you have been injured due to the negligence of others, you can still begin the process of seeking compensation for your personal injury claims. Especially if you have been financially affected by COVID-19, it is now more important than ever to ensure that you secure full and fair compensation for your injuries. Although many businesses have unfortunately shut down, our firm remains open and continues to effectively handle all cases coming through our doors.

For those who are wondering how COVID-19 can affect their existing personal injury case, please continue reading to learn how you can better navigate this difficult time.

What about medical treatment?

In order to maximize the value of a personal injury case, it is important that a client completes all of their recommended treatment. Depending on the injury, medical treatments can take a long period of time, including follow up visits with the treating physician or specialist, physical therapy, rehab, pain management, as well as surgeries and other types of procedures.

There is a legitimate concern about continuing treatment with the threat of COVID19, and all precautions should be taken to minimize the chance of contracting or spreading the virus. But we must keep in mind that stopping treatment altogether because of the virus may still have an impact on the value of your case. In fact, it would not be surprising if the insurance company tries to use this period to try and devalue your personal injury claim, and argue that if you stopped your treatment, maybe your injuries are not that serious. This makes it even more important that you try, when possible, to attend all of your scheduled appointments.

What can I do?

If you are worried about seeking treatment while COVID19 concerns abound, we recommend doing the following:

1. Call your physician to see if they are still seeing patients. Many physicians have instituted safety protocols to reduce patient exposure while still enabling them to treat their patients.

2. If you are in physical therapy or similar treatment and your therapist is not seeing patients in person, call to see if there is a home therapy program that you can do. If you can get a home exercise program from your therapist, it will be vital that you keep a diary of your therapy and document your progress.

3. Communicate with us about any delays in your treatment and continue to try and be seen by your physicians. It is important that you keep your attorney updated about your treatment, and whether you are facing any difficulties in attending your appointments due to COVID-19, or for any other reason. Your attorney may be able to help you overcome any challenges you are facing, thereby preserving the value of your claim.

What if my case is in litigation?

The reality is a lot of courts are closed and are postponing hearings and trials until the quarantine orders are lifted. It can be quite frustrating if you were on the eve of trial only to have it continued to an unknown date. We can only ask that you be patient as the courts are also adjusting to the imposed changes. Regardless, your case is still important to us, and can be effectively handled even during this time.

Can I still meet with a lawyer?

Our firm remains open for business, and you are welcome to call to send us a text at any time for a free consultation. In order to reduce risk of exposure, we can still meet with you remotely. If you are in need, do not wait for months in order to speak with an attorney and seek treatment, as this may affect the value of your claim. We are here for you and can provide responsive, compassionate, and personalized service and representation. Call or text us at any time.