The international Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to disrupt many aspects of daily life. However, the pandemic will not stop individuals from experiencing life-threatening personal injuries and accidents. Mauriello Law Offices will continue to help those seeking compensation for their injuries during this tumultuous period. In doing so, it is important to recognize how COVID-19 will affect aspects of the claim process and provide suggestions on how to handle personal injury claims during this unprecedented time.

If you are involved in an accident, it’s crucial that you seek medical treatment to ensure your own personal safety and maximize your compensation award from your insurance company. During the COVID-19 outbreak, you may feel concerned about visiting a hospital or may have to wait a prolonged period of time to receive treatment. However, not taking the necessary medical steps after an accident will lead to insurance companies diminishing your claim and reducing your compensation. When visiting a healthcare facility, make sure to follow CDC recommendations and maintain social distancing practices. Another alternative is scheduling a virtual meeting with a healthcare professional if you believe your injuries are not as serious. Regardless of COVID-19, a victim must continue to meet medical appointments and obtain proper medical documentation to help make sure that their injury is fairly compensated by their insurance company.

Insurance companies will likely become more difficult to work with during this economic downturn. Like most Americans, they will be struggling from an economic lag and seek to increase their profits. Because insurance agencies are seeking to settle claims as quickly as possible, let an experienced personal injury lawyer work on your case and handle all interactions with insurance companies. Doing this will help prevent insurance agencies from unfairly denying or undervaluing your claim.

COVID-19 will likely continue delaying the formal legal process for personal injury cases that are in the court system (i.e. those that could not settle and needed to be filed). As of May 21, 2020, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has extended certain filing deadlines and postponed different types of trials in North Carolina. State and federal courts will continue to hear cases however, they will likely be modified to adhere to social distancing practices. Because of the likely slow and delayed response from courts, Mauriello Law Offices advise all clients to act quickly after an accident and file a claim with us as soon as possible. The sooner we can start working on your claim, the better. For more information on the status of courthouses in North Carolina, click here .

Finally, as we have posted recently, new laws have been put in effect to protect the medical community from malpractice suits arising from claims occurring within the pandemic period. (See NC senate bill and NC statute 9-21.133) It is thus important to consult us on any such claims as soon as practicable in order to protect your interests and advise you on the new course of recovery. Thank you and stay safe.