Due to the coronavirus spreading around the world, schools and businesses are locked up. All we can do is wait and hope the situation clears up quickly.
If you’re currently in a legal battle, there’s no doubt that the spread of the coronavirus has interfered with the proceedings in your case. Most courts are closed, and face to face meetings that involve only attorneys, and their clients are being discouraged.
As the victim of a personal injury case, you may be dealing with mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering. Not being able to proceed with many personal injury cases is going to extend the time you have to wait for your compensation.
The New York City law office of Gary Falkowitz is going to explain how the COVID-19 virus could affect your case, so you have the information you need during this challenging situation.
What Can I Do if the Coronavirus is Affecting My Personal Injury Case?
If the courts are closed, this means that your case cannot proceed to trial at this time. Without having a jury present to decide your personal injury case, attorneys may be lacking the necessary leverage to provide a resolution.
What you can do is make sure your New York attorney has the means to keep your case active and organized, working to respond to your questions, and meeting with their legal teams to keep things on track. If your attorney’s law firm is paperless, they are best equipped to deal with this situation.
Arbitrations and mediations are legal proceedings that may be able to take place while the courts are closed. These are proceedings where an impartial third-party help you come to a resolution that is recognized by the courts and the law.
These types of meetings can be done through small gatherings in private offices that cannot be shut down during the pandemic, or they can be held via video conferencing for additional safety.
Additionally, your New York attorney should be continuing with the discovery process, while the courts are closed. Your lawyer can continue to submit materials, exchange discovery items, and make motions to the court.
Most courts now use an e-file system and will be able to accept paperwork while the courts are closed. If your New York lawyer continues to submit materials to the court during the shut-down, this will get your case closer to a resolution.
Depositions are sworn testimony given out of court by a witness that can be used later when the courts re-open. These can be done remotely, and this is another way your New York attorney can push your case forward.
What Happens If My Lawyer Cannot Represent Me Remotely?
If you believe your New York attorney doesn’t have the technology to represent you during the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be the time to find another attorney. Regularly switching your lawyer mid-case would be disruptive, but because the courts are closed, judges and juries will probably not notice any setbacks.
Your fee agreement with your attorney should be one-third of the compensation you recover. If you change law firms, your former law firm will receive a part of the one-third fee you agreed to for the work they performed.
Your new law firm will receive the remainder of the payment.
How Can I Find the Right New York Attorney to Represent Me?
New York City lawyer, Gary Falkowitz, has years of experience representing clients in personal injury cases. He takes a caring approach and gives all his clients the attention they deserve.
Additionally, they have state of the art technology that ensures they can continue to work on your case during this pandemic. Dealing with a personal injury isn’t easy and is especially stressful during this pandemic. Make sure you are protected with the right New York attorney by your side.
