What should I do if I have a personal injury during this pandemic? In January of 2020, the Washington State Department of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus) in the United States. In the last two months, the pandemic has spread across the globe. In an effort to control the deadly outbreak, Governor Jay Inslee released a Stay Home, Stay Healthy order—requiring people in Washington to stay in their residence except for essential activities.
Of course, life has to go on during this difficult time. Unfortunately, accidents can and are still happening during the 2020 pandemic. This raises an important question: What should you do if you suffer a personal injury during the coronavirus outbreak? There are some unique considerations. Here, our Washington personal injury attorneys explain what you need to know if you or your loved one is severely harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five Things to Do If You Have A Personal Injury During the 2020 Pandemic
Seek Immediate Medical Attention for your personal injury
All serious personal injuries require professional medical attention. While emergency medical needs are always paramount, personal injuries that appear to be mild or moderate should also be checked out by a qualified medical doctor. While the COVID-19 outbreak is currently putting immense pressure on the health care system, there are still resources available to treat other personal injuries and illnesses. Do not be dissuaded from seeing a doctor because of the coronavirus. Car accidents (and other accidents) are still happening and injured victims have a right to medical care. Of course, it is important to take proper safety precautions when getting help.
Try to Document Your Accident and Injuries
In order to bring a successful personal injury claim, you need strong supporting evidence. In the claims process, you will be required to prove both the defendant’s liability and the extent of your damages. The more evidence that you have, the easier it is to pursue full and fair financial compensation for your injuries.
As an example, if you were injured in a car accident, you should exchange information with the other driver, report the crash to law enforcement, take photographs, and get contact details for any witnesses. That being said, it is important to keep the pandemic in mind when you are dealing with others or trying to gather evidence. Take care and try to keep as much social distance as you reasonably can.
Avoid Unnecessary Social Contact
Social distancing is one of the keys to defeating the COVID-19 outbreak. As recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should keep at least six feet of space between yourself and other people—at least whenever that is possible. Even after an accident, it is still advisable to limit unnecessary social contact. If you are in a position to do so, keep your distance from others. The coronavirus is highly infectious—and people can have it despite showing few (if any) symptoms.
Do Not Wait to Act: The Statute of Limitations is Running
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused disruptions in virtually every industry. In fact, even the Supreme Court of the United States has temporarily postponed oral arguments. That being said, for the most part, legal cases are still moving forward. The coronavirus epidemic did not pause the statute of limitations in Washington.
If you were injured in an accident, the statute of limitations is still running in your case. With no definitive ending in sight, you do not want to lose time waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to be over. Our law firm is ready to help. We are able to handle cases remotely—taking action now to put you in the very best position to recover the full financial compensation that you deserve.
Schedule a Free, No Obligation Phone Consultation
Even while much of life is being put on hold for the coronavirus, the personal injury claims process can still move forward. At Premier Law Group, our Washington accident attorneys have the tools, resources, and technology needed to assist you remotely. We are offering free, completely confidential telephone consultation. In other words, you can still initiate the personal injury claims process without visiting a legal office.
Call Our Washington Personal Injury Attorneys for Immediate Assistance
At Premier Law Group, our Washington personal injury lawyers are skilled, clients-focused advocates for injured victims. During the difficult COVID-19 epidemic, we are working tirelessly to protect injured victims. For a free, confidential telephone consultation, please contact our law firm now. We can work with you remotely. From our office locations in Seattle, Federal Way, Renton, and Bellevue, we represent injured victims all over Western Washington.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.