Injured in an Accident During the Stay at Home Order: Is It Too Late To File A Claim?

Like much of the rest of the world, the state of Florida was been under a stay at home order for the better part of the spring. However, since there were a variety of exceptions to these rules – including one’s ability to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, exercise or take walks outside, and travel to work for essential purposes – accidents still occurred. What’s more, workers who are working remotely may have also been more susceptible to injury, without adequate workplace protections in place to prevent mishaps.

Many personal injury victims are wondering whether they can still file a personal injury claim if they were injured while the stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines were in effect. While there may be some obstacles that will impact your case, it is certainly wise to initiate the process of filing as soon as possible. There is a statute of limitations for accident cases, but in Florida, this is typically 4 years (although certain circumstances may invalidate that period). It is not necessarily too late to file a claim, but the longer you wait, the less likely you are to recover full compensation. It is important to contact an attorney right away. A personal injury attorney can navigate the critical aspects of your claim virtually, and make recommendations for how to proceed.

Seeking Medical Treatment

Your personal injury claim relies heavily on the costs and outcomes of your medical care. Personal injury victims may find that they have to take significant measures immediately – such as surgery or fixing a fractured bone – or find that their injury requires treatment over time, such as in the case of physical therapy. Most personal injury clients will have many doctor’s visits scheduled over a significant length of time.

While you may be wondering whether it’s safe to keep your medical appointments on the books, in many cases your health – and your personal injury claim – will depend on it. If your doctor is operating out of a hospital, there is some risk that you will be in contact with coronavirus patients, or that the hospitals will be pushing or canceling appointments in order to deal with the ongoing pandemic crisis (though Florida has experienced a drop in cases and the state is opening up much more). Doctors operating out of private facilities may also find that stay at home orders prevented them from opening their doors as they customarily would, either currently or at the time of your injury.

If, however, your doctor is seeing patients as normally scheduled, then make sure their office is insisting on adequate protocols to slow the spread of the virus. Wear a mask, stay a reasonable distance from others, use plenty of hand sanitizing gel whenever you touch any surfaces, and wash your hands thoroughly and consistently.

Bear in mind that, if your doctor’s appointments are delayed, your case may be delayed as well. After all, most personal injury cases will rely on the cost and severity of your medical treatment in order to assign a numerical value to your case. Do your best to keep your appointments on schedule, and be sure to inform your lawyer if they are not.

Injured While Working From Home?

Just because you’re out of the office doesn’t mean you can’t still suffer an on-the-job injury. Workers compensation programs must accept claims for employees who have been injured or have contracted an illness due to some aspect of their employment. That said, proving your injuries occurred on the job while you were working from home might be a little more difficult to prove. Be sure to contact an attorney if you’re unsure whether you have a claim.

The Florida Law Group Can Win Maximum Compensation

The pandemic shouldn’t stop you from getting the justice you deserve, and that is why it is important to contact an experienced local personal injury attorney who will fight to achieve a verdict. The Florida Law Group is ranked in the top 1% of lawyers by multiple national prestigious organizations, and we will never let you settle for less than what you deserve, no matter how complex your case may be. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – we don’t get paid unless you win!