The US faces yet another surge in COVID-19 infections, and it seems like individuals and industries will need to adapt themselves to this new coronavirus world. COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives, including the justice system. One vital aspect that’s been influenced under the pandemic is personal injury.
Even though the coronavirus cases continue to increase day by day, an individual can experience slip and fall accidents, a car accident or a similar event, forcing them to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for damages suffered. If you are considering filing a personal injury claim, it’s important you understand the challenges you may face during this time.
Here is everything you need to know about the impact of COVID-19 on personal injury cases:
Pursuing a Personal Injury Case During COVID-19 Crisis
Like everything else, the trials are suspended, thus causing delays in personal injury case settlements. The COVID-19 crisis has its own financial implications and many employees have lost their jobs following the lockdowns.
Personal injury victims wish to get their claims settled as quickly as possible. This has provided insurers with an opportunity to exploit the victims by offering a lower settlement than in normal circumstances.
It’s quite possible that the offer will not compensate all damages, so victims will need to be careful before accepting an offer.
If the case goes to trial, victims are more likely to face aggressive resistance from insurers, who’ll do everything in their power to keep the value of the claim low. Like other business owners, insurance companies expect profits to shrink during the recession. This means that cases are less likely to settle before going to trial and more claims are expected to proceed to court hearings.
For claims in which the defendant is a business, getting compensated for the damages can be difficult as most organizations are adversely impacted by the economic downturn. On top of that, if the business is uninsured, it may not have any funds to pay for the damages.
In the worst case scenario, a business may never be able to recover the payments and even if they do have a chance, they’ll need to wait for a long time as the defendant files for bankruptcy and a settlement is reached.
Challenges Associated with Healthcare
Before you’re granted a compensation award, you must receive healthcare treatment, as advised by medical personnel, and provide proper medical documents to prove the extent of your injuries and the associated bill.
However, with hospitals flooded with COVID-19 patients, no one is comfortable with the idea of visiting healthcare facilities unless the victim faces life-threatening injuries.
Since it’s important to receive and complete the medical treatment to know the full scope of damages, victims still need to receive treatment before they can file their personal injury claims. Considering there is no other choice, you will have to go to a hospital, while closely following CDC guidelines and social distancing protocols.
Depending on the severity of your injury and the COVID-19 situation at the healthcare center, you may even have to wait longer than usual to receive treatment, which may delay your case even further.
The impact of COVID-19 on personal injury cases can’t be taken lightly. In light of the above-discussed issues, seeking legal help or hiring an experienced attorney is more critical than ever. Experienced attorneys will do their best to speed up the process and help you reach the best settlement.
References:
Impact of COVID-19 on Personal Injury Cases. (2020, May 12). Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.justia.com/covid-19/impact-of-covid-19-on-personal-injury-cases/