One of the most common questions that many accident victims have now is, what will be the result of refusing to receive treatment during the coronavirus pandemic? In short, refusing to receive medical care could end up jeopardizing the outcome of your personal injury case. Our Long Island accident attorney reviews some additional details about how declining to receive medical care during the pandemic could influence the amount of compensation that you ultimately receive.
Medical Treatment is Critical to Maximizing Case Value
To maximize the value of compensation following an accident, victims must receive medical care. Sometimes, this care might involve emergency services, while other times the care involves physical therapy or surgeries. Victims must make sure to receive all physician-recommended treatment.
During the coronavirus outbreak, it is understandable that you might have concerns about how you will physically attend each of these appointments. Unfortunately, refusing recommended medical treatment due to fear of the virus does not alter the fact that receiving that treatment is important in making sure you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible. If it is impossible to physically attend a medical appointment due to the center being overrun with coronavirus cases, this might only result in delayed rather than cancelled appointments.
If you find yourself in a situation in which you cannot receive treatment, make sure to keep your injury lawyer updated and to remain focused on obtaining the first available appointment. If you do not receive medical treatment, you will not be able to establish the extent of your injuries. If you are uneasy about going to a physician, it is still important to go, but you should make sure that you take sufficient precautions when visiting.
Attending New York Court Dates During the Pandemic
To extraordinary circumstances, New York courts have taken several precautions to keep both the public and court staff safe. If you need to attend a court date, remember that courts have taken several safety precautions including:
- New York state courts are remaining open for essential businesses. This extends to criminal proceedings in City Courts, guardianship proceedings in New York Supreme Court, and certain child custody issues in Family Courts.
- On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.8 which suspended civil statutes of limitation and non-essential court proceedings until April 19, 2020. While this order substantially scaled back court operations, lawyers are still able to help accident victims by evaluating cases, conducting investigations, and building strong cases that can be promptly filed once emergency restrictions are lifted.
- New York Courts are not conducting jury trials while emergency orders are in effect. Cases, however, can still be settled through efforts like private mediation.
Speak with an Experienced Accident Attorney
If you were involved in an accident and are seeking compensation, you should not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer despite any concerns that you might have about the pandemic.
At Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP LLP, we are prepared to handle cases during the pandemic and will continue to fight for the amount of compensation you are entitled to. Call us 24/7.
