When the planet entered 2020, no one could predict that COVId-19 will shut down the world as rapidly as it has done, and its impact will be so severe.
The coronavirus has affected people worldwide, in various ways. In the personal injury world, it caused slower progress across the claims landscape. The pandemic has forced the authorities to respond with changes in how business is done, and these changes have affected everyone, including attorneys who had to follow stricter guidelines to reduce the number of infected individuals and limit the overall exposure to the virus. Throughout the USA, personal injury attorneys have been forced to work from home and maintain social distancing. Still, even in the given situation, they are working hard to help their clients.
But for lawyers who are accustomed to working with their clients face-to-face, complying with the new measures has not been an easy task. The authorities have issued orders that ask residents to remain home unless they are essential employees (healthcare workers, government officials, food industry employees). But the measures have had an enormous impact on the personal injury field because lawyers and clients had to find a way to navigate the cases while confined to their houses.
Clients are afraid to seek medical treatment for their auto accident injuries because they can get infected while at the hospital. Also, they are wondering if the insurers will be able to pay their claims now that everyone is struggling to keep a steady income. First and foremost, everyone should know that insurance companies are paying health and liability insurance claims even during the pandemic. The regulations have established that insurance providers have to investigate, process and pay insurance claims.
Do personal injury companies still take clients?
Courthouses throughout the USA have mostly closed their doors to the general public, and the wheels of justice are moving slower than usual. This means the personal injury law is dealing with delays for legal proceedings which can prove harmful for some cases because they are time-sensitive and heavily rely on the trial date. Under certain circumstances, courts allow video conferencing to encourage lawyers to stay in touch with their clients and their respective judges.
But while courtrooms are closed, law companies are open with counsel for their clients, even if their staff is working from home. They are aware that their cases need to move forward, and the pandemic doesn't protect people from auto accidents.
If you contact a car accident lawyer in Houston, TX they can conduct settlement conferences through video conferencing, and provide you with remote depositions. They won't abandon you and your case because it's their responsibility to maintain contact with you and advise you towards action. But, as a driver, you should also try to stay at your best, to monitor your health state and protect yourself from accidents because as the nation is facing financial uncertainty, many drivers won't have a viable premium. However, you can claim damage after an auto accident, even if the other driver doesn't have insurance, and take legal action to receive compensation for your substantial damages and medical bills.