Just a few months ago, no one could predict that everyone would be stocking up on toilet paper, practicing social distancing, and working from home. No one could predict that 316 million Americans would be urged to stay home or that the U.S. economy was about to sink into a recession, causing nearly 17 million to file for U.S. unemployment benefits in just three weeks.
Yes, the coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives forever. With most businesses and institutions remaining closed or restricting their opening hours in response to the COVID-19 spread, many Floridians are wondering how these coronavirus shutdowns might affect their pending or potential personal injury case.
Are Florida’s Courts Closed Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic?
In March, Florida courts were ordered to cancel all but “essential” proceedings and emergency operations. But what does it mean for your personal injury case if you were injured in a car crash, motorcycle collision, or another accident during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Despite the coronavirus shutdowns across Florida, every person who was wrongly injured through the fault of another person is still entitled to compensation. However, the injured is still required to comply with applicable state requirements, such as proving causation, breach of duty, and establishing negligence.
Thus, even though Florida’s courts are closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, you must still seek help from a Lakeland personal injury attorney to build your case. However, do not be surprised if your hearings, conferences, or trials are postponed or canceled numerous times during the pandemic.
Should You Go to a Hospital in Spite of the Risk of Contracting Coronavirus?
If you were unfortunate to get injured during the coronavirus pandemic, you must seek medical attention, especially if you have a catastrophic injury. Florida’s emergency rooms at local hospitals are continuing to accept patients despite the pandemic.
Understandably, you may be aware of the risk of contracting COVID-19 when vising a hospital or emergency room for an unrelated procedure. For this reason, you should follow the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as Florida’s health authorities to protect yourself from becoming infected at the facility.
Should You Settle Your Personal Injury Case During the Pandemic?
Given the economic volatility and financial uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be tempting to settle your personal injury claim to obtain a quick sum of money. In fact, you could feel the insurance company’s increased pressure to settle.
However, you could end up accepting a low-ball settlement offer. If you can afford to wait instead of settling your claim for the lowest amount possible, it could pay off in the long run.
Consult with a Lakeland personal injury attorney to evaluate how much your claim is worth. Contact our attorneys at The Turnbull Firm to talk about your particular situation.
Resources:
edition.cnn.com/2020/04/10/business/united-states-recession/index.html
reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-unemployment/millions-filed-for-u-s-unemployment-many-are-still-waiting-for-the-cash-idUSKCN21S1YD
wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/florida-courts-ordered-cancel-all-essential-proceedings-amid-concerns-over-coronavirus
nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-stay-at-home-order.html