Impact of COVID-19 on Car Accident Cases
The coronavirus has changed the life of everyone in the world. Aside from the hundreds of thousands of lives lost and the even more people that have fallen ill, there are profound changes to the way that we live our lives. Maybe things will go back to normal or maybe the current state of affairs is the new normal. We won’t know until the virus goes away or is significantly diminished. Legal cases have also been affected by Covid-19 and that includes car accident cases.
The way that you react after a car accident will have to change according to the new rules meant to slow down the spread of the virus. What has not changed is that you will need an attorney to help settle the case. You can still contact a personal injury attorney to help you with your car accident case, but you need to be aware that some of them might have new protocols in place that are meant to keep their clients safe. If you live in California and need a car accident attorney, then visit getinjuryanswers.com to get the help you need.
How Car Accidents Have Been Impacted By Covid-19
Even though there are fewer people on the road because of the lockdown and quarantine protocols imposed on many American cities, car accidents still happen. However, the way that you react after a car accident has to change in order to comply with the new guidelines. You need to maintain a distance of at least six feet from the other driver and you should put on your mask as well.
Instead of physically exchanging information, you should ask the other driver for their phone number and send each other texts with your relevant information, including pictures of your driver’s licence and insurance information. One thing that hasn’t changed is that you should also use your phone to take pictures of the damage done to each vehicle as well as the general accident scene.
If there are any serious injuries, then you should still call emergency services or head to an emergency room if you can safely do so. Hospitals, paramedics, and doctor’s offices all take the proper precautions to ensure the safety of their patients so you should not worry about getting infected with, or transmitting the coronavirus.
How Your Car Accident Case is Impacted By Covid-19
You should still contact an attorney if you were in a car accident that was caused by a negligent driver, however you should be mindful that their procedures might have changed because of the coronavirus. You might have to deal with them remotely instead of in person but you should contact an attorney nonetheless. That is because you will be dealing with the insurance company of the negligent driver and in these times insurance companies may offer lower than expected settlements.
One of the reasons is that they may try to exploit the desperation of people who need any amount of money they can get by offering them the lowest possible settlement. Another reason is that the insurance companies may be struggling in the coronavirus depressed economy and will only offer small settlements in their efforts to maintain a profit. No matter the reason, you will need an attorney to negotiate on your behalf to make sure that you are compensated fairly.
Since you will probably be facing greater resistance from the insurance companies, there is a higher chance that a car accident case will go to trial, which is typically a rare outcome. However, the courts are also backed up because of the coronavirus, which means that it could be a while before you head to court.
Contact an Attorney About How Covid-19 May Affect Your Car Accident Case
There are a lot of possible ways that the coronavirus can affect your car accident case but you won’t know for sure until you contact a personal injury attorney. Even in normal times you should do so as quickly as possible, but it is now more important than ever. Covid-19 can impact your case in unpredictable ways but an attorney can help to safely guide you through any legal twists and turns brought on by the global pandemic that we are all going through.