COVID-19 And Personal Injury Lawsuits – What to Expect

Almost everything on the planet has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so it makes sense people will see their personal injury lawsuit impacted by Coronavirus. And that’s tough.

Nobody starts a personal injury case because they just don’t have anything better to do. If you’ve worked with a personal injury attorney to file a claim, it’s because something happened and you or a loved one got hurt. Your life was changed by factors outside your control, and it could have been avoided.

Then Coronavirus came along and added insult to injury. You just want justice. You deserve compensation. Now you’re stuck at home, possibly still in pain. It may be harder to get the medical attention you need to heal. Courts are slower to respond, and the world seems to be in an endless holding pattern. Let’s look at what you might expect in the days ahead.

The Best Personal Injury Attorneys Aren’t Closed

COVID-19 restrictions have forced nonessential businesses to close in order to flatten the curve, and even as the nation begins to open again, essential businesses may be working with shorter hours and fewer staff members. The Monsour Law Firm office has taken steps to keep employees and clients safe, but we’re still available to fight for you.

For current clients, we’re communicating through phone, email, video conferencing and a number of other means. Their questions don’t go unanswered, their needs don’t go unmet. Yes, fighting Coronavirus is important, but your personal injury claim is important too, and we’re not waiting around to work on your behalf for a favorable outcome. You won’t notice any impact on the level of service you receive.

If you become injured during this time, we’re also able to leverage technology to provide free consultations. You don’t have to wait until stay at home orders or quarantine advisories are completely abolished to talk with a personal injury attorney about your case.

Many Court Proceedings Are Paused

As COVID-19 continues to impact Texas, Louisiana and other parts of the nation, district judges and rural courthouses have paused legal proceedings. Gathering in groups isn’t recommended for any organization, so their action makes sense. Court proceedings could expose judges, attorneys, defendants, plaintiffs, juries and witnesses alike to a virus that could cost lives.

Courts are authorized to use teleconferencing for essential hearings, but in many cases, legal proceedings could be delayed.

Personal Injury cases always seem to take too long. Our sympathy goes out to those who were already victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dangerous drug, oilfield accident or other injury and now see justice delayed indefinitely. You’re always free to check in about the expected timeline in your specific case.

Receiving Medical Treatment Could Take Longer

Even though Texas and Louisiana aren’t seeing the infection rates crippling New York’s healthcare system, medical centers are facing unprecedented challenges, and that may affect your ability to get treatment in your personal injury case.

It’s important to do everything you can to follow through on what your doctor recommended when you first became injured. Monsour Law Firm works with a network of healthcare providers. If you’re having trouble receiving treatment because your existing provider has to prioritize coronavirus-related care, let us know and we may be able to help you find other arrangements.

You’ll Be More Tempted to Settle

When it seems like there’s no end in sight, sometimes victims start thinking they should take what’s on the table now rather than waiting for a better offer that may never come. That’s especially tempting if you’ve recently lost your job or found yourself in COVID-19 related financial difficulty. If you can, it’s best to wait.

You’ve already been through so much. When things seem to just keep getting worse, you may lose sight of hope. However, if you’re working with us, know we don’t stop just because things get tough. We have a long track record of fighting to get our clients fair compensation for what they suffered. That isn’t going to change because of a pandemic.

If you’re not working with us and you’ve been injured, let’s talk about your case. Schedule your free online consultation today.