The pandemic has caused extraordinary circumstances for many people. COVID-19 has not only forced us to change the way to work but also the way we live. If you’ve filed a personal injury claim after being in an accident, the pandemic might affect you as well.
Here’s what you should know:
Delayed Non-Urgent Medical Care
With the spread of the COVID-19, hospitals and medical clinics are reaching maximum capacity.
If you’ve been injured or hurt, you must seek medical care as soon as possible. Some medical practices aren’t seeing patients in person or can only see a limited number of patients each day. However, many general practice doctors are offering virtual appointments to patients during the pandemic. If you’re unable to seek medical help in person, you may still be able to get diagnosed and treated through a virtual appointment. You must do this so you can get your injuries documented and treated.
But with hospitals and medical professionals focused on treating COVID-19 patients, many non-urgent medical surgeries or therapy will need to wait. Regardless, make sure you follow your medical professional’s advice and keep a copy of your accident-related medical records. You will likely need this information in the event you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Delayed Court Trials
Across the country, many businesses have reduced business hours or capacity to slow the spread of COVID-19. Similarly, the California court systems are following state guidelines to ensure public safety.
Unfortunately, that could mean delayed court dates if your personal injury case goes to trial. During the pandemic, regulations are constantly changing and may impact the timeline of your claims.
Due to this, we recommend that you act quickly after an accident or injury. Speak with an attorney from our personal injury law firm as soon as possible to get your claim started. The sooner we can start your claim and get it filed, the sooner we can reach a resolution.
Increased Pressure to Settle
Many people are facing financial uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workers have had their work hours cut or let go completely. Job stability is a common and reasonable concern.
Due to this, you might feel the pressure to take the first settlement offer. Or even a low offer from the other party. However, they might pressure you to settle and not necessarily put a fair value on your personal injury claim. This could be due to reasons unrelated to the accident.
For example, let’s say you filed a personal injury lawsuit against a restaurant. Per local COVID-19 regulations, the restaurant is unable to offer dine-in services to customers and has been losing a lot of money. As a result, the owners want to pay out as little as possible to keep their business running. In this case, our expert personal injury attorneys can help advise you on how to best proceed.
Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The pandemic has changed the way we live – but injured victims still deserve justice. If you’ve been injured from an accident, an experienced lawyer at Mesriani Law Group can help you with your claim. Contact us today to see how we can help you get justice and the maximum compensation you deserve.
