How Will COVID-19 Affect My Car Accident Claim?
How Will COVID-19 Affect My Car Accident Claim?
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way of life for many people throughout California and the US. The pandemic has also affected the way that car accident claims are handled. In general, anybody injured in a car accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another party should be able to recover the compensation they are entitled to. With that in mind, you should still consider seeking an attorney in the aftermath of any car accident, even in the midst of the pandemic.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
The COVID-19 pandemic has made many people wary about going to the doctor for medical care following auto accidents. However, seeking medical care soon after a crash occurs is a vital aspect of obtaining compensation for your claim. Take proper precautions when you go to the doctor, including practicing social distancing and wearing a mask, but do not delay seeking medical care.
Do Not Delay Your Claim
You also should not delay reporting the can accident to your insurance carrier. Most auto insurance policies specify that crashes need to be reported fairly quickly after they occur. If you delay reporting the accident, the insurance carrier will be much more likely to delay or deny your claim.
Will The Insurance Carrier Settle During The Pandemic?
Insurance carriers will still settle car accident claims made during the coronavirus pandemic. However, you can be sure that insurance carriers will be looking at their bottom line and will do what they can to get claimants to accept low settlement offers. Lowball offers are likely to be more common during the COVID-19 pandemic, as insurance carriers are taking in less money through other avenues at this time.
Will It Still Be Possible To Investigate The Incident?
It will still be possible for an attorney to investigate your car accident, though this may be a little bit more challenging. Car accident investigations often involve working to obtain video surveillance footage, statements from eyewitnesses, and documents from municipal agencies. Various aspects of a car accident investigation may take a little bit longer to conduct and complete. However, this will not deter a skilled car accident lawyer from doing what is necessary to obtain maximum compensation on behalf of their client.
The Statute of Limitations Still Applies
In California, the personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date the accident occurs. This means that car accident injury victims have a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver. Failing to file a lawsuit within this two-year timeframe will likely result in the accident victim being unable to recover the compensation they deserve. Please keep in mind that this time frame has nothing to do with reporting the incident to your insurance carrier. Insurance carriers need to be notified of the accident very quickly after they occur.
The car accident attorneys at Bentley & More LLP encourage you to get your claim started as soon as possible, even though we are in the midst of a global pandemic. You do not want to take the chance of filing your claim too late to recover the compensation you need. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling (949)-870-3800.