How Will COVID-19 Affect My Car Accident Claim?
Posted in Car accidents on July 27, 2020
They COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about everybody in some way. Going to the movie theater presents a risk. Schools have closed and have no clear reopening strategies. However, there are other areas of life that the pandemic has affected that many people do not think about. In particular, the COVID-19 crisis could affect a car accident claim. This includes investigations into the incident and delays in a final settlement. Here, our Nashville car accident attorneys discuss what you can do if you have an ongoing car accident claim in the midst of the global pandemic.
Seeking medical treatment
Many people may be afraid to seek medical treatment after a car accident injury because they do not want to be exposed to COVID-19 in a healthcare setting. However, it is vital that you receive medical treatment soon after an accident occurs. Not doing so could give the insurance carrier a reason to deny your claim or not pay the full value for your injuries. If you fail to seek medical assistance after sustaining an injury in a car accident, you are putting your long-term health in danger. The consequences of not seeking medical care far outweigh the chances of contracting COVID-19, so please do not hesitate to seek medical care.
Missed car insurance premiums
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people unemployed, including many people here in Tennessee. This has led to many drivers missing their car insurance premium payments. Check with your insurance carrier and see if they are offering any delayed premiums or if they will cancel your coverage if you miss a payment. Most insurance carriers throughout the country are offering some sort of assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court schedules are delayed
If your car accident case cannot be resolved through insurance carriers and you have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver, your case could see delays because of court closures. In most cases, courts throughout Tennessee have been closed for all non-essential and non-emergency hearings. The good news is that most car accident cases are settled out of court, even after a lawsuit is filed. Your attorney should be able to work around court delays to try and negotiate maximum compensation for your case.
Investigating the incident
Even cases that are settled out of court usually require extensive investigation on the part of your attorney in order to prove liability. This often includes obtaining video and photo surveillance, speaking to eyewitnesses, analyzing accident reports, and even reconstructing the accident scene. The investigation process could take more time in order to safely implement social distancing measures.
Insurance companies and their profits
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about everybody, including individuals and businesses. The insurance carriers are no exception. It is always important to remember that insurance carriers are “for-profit” entities that will do what they can to lower your settlement. This may be especially the case as they see that they are not gaining as much in premium payments during the ongoing health and economic crisis. For those involved in an accident, this could mean that the insurance carriers are going to fight to not pay a settlement that you deserve. Reach out to our Nashville personal injury lawyers if you have additional questions.