Should I Wait to File a Personal Injury Claim Due to COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced states to issue lockdowns and has required businesses to shut down or adopt new safety protocols. Understandably, many people are choosing to stay home and avoid non-essential business to protect their own health and that of others.
Despite the ways that COVID-19 is impacting people’s lives, accidents and injuries are still occurring regularly. Personal injuries can lead to physical, emotional, and financial damages. It is important that victims pursue compensation for these losses, but should you wait to file a personal injury claim due to COVID-19? The personal injury attorneys at Zucker & Regev, P.C. in Brooklyn, NY, address those concerns here.
Delaying a Claim Could Forfeit Your Right to Compensation
It is important that people prioritize their health and safety in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is also important that people consider their personal well-being. If another person’s reckless or negligent actions cause personal injuries, physical and emotional trauma, and financial damages, they should be held liable for all resulting losses. The best way for a person to hold liable parties accountable is by filing a personal injury claim.
It is reasonable that people may hesitate to file a legal claim in the midst of a pandemic. Unfortunately, individuals only have a limited amount of time to take action and file a lawsuit. Each state has statutes of limitations in place for civil lawsuits. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in New York is three years. That three-year deadline begins on the day of the injury-causing accident.
As of now, no states have suspended statutes of limitations in response to COVID-19. This means that if someone waits to take action until the pandemic is better under control, they run the risk of forfeiting their right to pursue financial compensation for their losses.
How Can I File a Claim Safely?
At Zucker & Regev, P.C., we take our Brooklyn clients’ health very seriously. We are following all state and CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. We can meet with our clients over the phone or virtually to provide an added layer of protection if that is what is preferred. Our goal is to file claims and pursue financial compensation in a timely manner without compromising our clients’ safety.
What If My Trial Is Delayed?
Because of COVID-19, many courts are postponing trials. In most cases, this will not impact personal injury victims. For one, many personal injury cases end in settlement without going to trial. Whenever possible, our attorneys work to get our Brooklyn clients a pre-trial settlement that justly accounts for the full extent of their losses.
If a personal injury claim needs to go to trial, we are always prepared to do so. While court postponements could delay our clients from getting financial compensation, it won’t prevent them from pursuing the damages they are due. As long as a claim is filed before the statute of limitations runs out, the deadline has been met and the case will remain open until a settlement has been reached or the case has been decided in court.
Get Your Personal Injury Case Started
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by another person or party, it is important that you act quickly to pursue the financial compensation you are due. To discuss your case with the personal injury attorneys at Zucker & Regev, P.C. contact us online, or call our law firm at (718) 624-1211.
