Coronavirus – COVID-19

The spread of the Coronavirus in 2020 has required a degree of adjustment by the injured person, the personal injury law firms and the medical providers. For someone in need of emergency care, there is little adjustment available or recommended. Even with the Coronavirus, it would be foolhardy to ignore the need for an ambulance and hospital emergency room. To keep safe, you should keep gloves, a face mask and hand sanitizer in your car and at your home. If you need to call an ambulance, put on your gloves and face mask before its arrival. If you want to consult with an attorney about your next steps, most law firms, including the Law Offices of Jeremy Flachs, can meet you remotely. We traditionally promoted face to face meetings in our office, but we have adjusted so that you can video or teleconference, and sign and return HIPPA releases and the fee agreement from your home. All that is needed is access to a scanner, fax machine or the US mail. Medical bills, records and photographs can also be provided to your personal injury attorney in the same manner. The most significant issue for the injured person is follow-up care with doctors and therapists. The need to social distance should not eliminate all medical care. Most healthcare providers in the Washington DC metro area have been able to provide medical and chiropractic care and physical therapy by limiting the number of patients appearing at any one time, frequent cleaning and the mandatory use of personal protection equipment (PPE).

It is understandable that some injured victims of negligence will decide to forego medical care to further reduce their risk of contracting the coronavirus. This is an important consideration because most personal injury settlements will suffer without documentation from physicians, therapists and other healthcare providers. While an argument could later be made that the injured person had little choice but to forego medical care to remain safe, it will be a difficult sell. Liability insurance companies, which have not had to make significant adjustments in negotiating claims, will profit by settling claims for less than true value. The attorneys and staff at the Law Offices of Jeremy Flachs are here to provide advice and help you find healthcare providers who can provide you a safe environment.