covid 19 coronavirus broward attorney

COVID-19 Action on Accident and Insurance Legal Claims

by Personal InjuryPersonal Injury ClaimsSurgeryTechnologyTraumatic Brain InjuryVacation Injuries

At The South Florida Injury Law Firm, we stand in support of the many brave men and women working in our hospitals, as well as our first responders fighting against COVID-19. We are taking care of our clients, our employees and our families and are doing whatever we can during these unprecedented times.

 

 

In order to help you through this trying time, we’ve put together some information on commonly asked COVID-19 legal questions:

 

Should I Get Medical Treatment During This Pandemic?

Yes. The most important thing to do after an auto accident is to obtain proper medical treatment. Your health is most important, and we want to ensure your concerns are safely addressed. In both Dade and Broward County, all medical practices are expected to follow proper health procedures to prevent the spread of disease

 

How do I file my car insurance claim during the new Coronavirus outbreak?

When filing a claim during this time, there is a very good chance you will have to meet with an adjuster virtually, instead of in person. In some cases, it may be that compensation for damage to your car, medical bills, and more may be delayed, since several insurance companies are struggling to adjust and appropriately deal with the virus. That being said, you can have peace of mind knowing that our experienced team at the South Florida Injury Law Firm will represent your interests every step of the way to help ensure you receive the compensation you need to get back on your feet again.

 

 

How can I contact my car insurance company during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Many businesses, including insurance companies, are now working remotely and are not going into their offices, which means that if you want to speak with your insurance company, you will most likely have to do so either over the phone, on their website/mobile app, or through email. Unfortunately, certain aspects surrounding the claims process may also be delayed, since local body shops and other businesses associated with car accident claims are now, for the most part, closed to the public.

 

 

Should I Settle My Case?

For many of you, you are the family worried about how they will pay their bills while in quarantine. This may cause you to accept the first offer from the insurance company without considering whether it’s enough.

Don’t let panic and desperation coerce you into accepting the insurance company’s first offer. They’re looking out for them and you should speak to your attorney who is looking out for you.

 

 

Do Not Delay Your Personal Injury Case Because Of COVID-19

Even with any roadblocks that could be encountered along the way, if you wait until after this crisis passes to call us a delay in hiring an attorney could hurt your case. Even a few days of delay in starting treatment can significantly reduce case value.

 

We Can Handle Your Case Remotely, Thus Reducing Your Exposure To The Coronavirus

The team at the South Florida Injury Law Firm all take calls from injured clients 24/7, 365 days a year and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We’re happy to speak with you by phone, and not have to worry about going to another public place, risking germ exposure.  However, if you have the need, one of our  personal injury lawyers can visit you in your home or, if necessary, in the hospital. To contact an accident lawyer, you can call The South Florida Injury Law Firm anytime at 954.764.7377 – seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Or fill out the convenient online form for a free case evaluation. Remember, the consultation is free and you will owe nothing until recovery of benefits is made.

We understand how significantly the virus has impacted our nation and others, which is why it is crucial you stay calm, stay inside, and practice good hygiene until the virus is eliminated.

south florida covid19 injury law firm

Living Through The Consequences of the Coronavirus Epidemic

by Personal InjuryPersonal Injury ClaimsSurgeryTechnologyTraumatic Brain InjuryVacation Injuries

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has completely changed the way of life for people all over this country. The court system has been dramatically affected, and those with ongoing personal injury lawsuits are having to make adjustments. COVID-19 is bringing numerous businesses, healthcare facilities, and court systems to a standstill. From a legal standpoint, the coronavirus will present both short term and long-term complications to personal injury claims.

 

 

There are so many unknowns with the current situation. Never before have we been faced with a pandemic of this magnitude. Every aspect of our lives is impacted. And the legal process and institutions are no exception.

 

At The South Florida Injury Law Firm, we are closely monitoring the effects of COVID-19 and monitoring how the virus is affecting our current cases. Accordingly, we are advising our clients on how best to stay on track with their medical treatments throughout the coming weeks.

 

 

 

How Does The COVID-19 Pandemic Affect My Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Our personal injury lawyers know several elements of your case could be affected by the pandemic, but the most important things to know are: You should not delay seeking medical treatment or consulting with an attorney. These are the quickest ways to jeopardize your health and reduce the value of your claim.

 

To help stay on track with your personal injury case, we recommend:

Continue medical treatment, if possible.

With many closures, appointments are likely to be canceled. Elective surgeries are canceled. If your medical provider can provide treatment or appointments through telemedical, and you can meet with your provider though video conference or phone, do so. If not, it’s important to be diligent in rescheduling any appointments that may be canceled. If you can receive medical treatment, we recommend following the advice and recommendations from the CDC and practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, and other precautions.

Keep your legal team Informed.

As appointments get canceled or rescheduled, it is important to keep your lawyer up to date on your treatment plans. Your case and its value can depend on continued treatment.

 

 

Living Through The Consequences of the Coronavirus Epidemic 1 Technology South Florida Injury Law FirmThe vast majority of personal injury cases are settled before they go to trial. However, the COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the negotiation and settlement process. Due to staying at home orders and social distancing efforts, most aspects of case preparation could be altered or delayed. This includes investigation, seeking witnesses, and taking depositions, and more.

This is an unprecedented time for Florida and the rest of the United States, but that will not stop our dedicated team of attorneys from working to obtain compensation for personal injury victims.

  • If you are involved in an auto accident or suffer a personal injury, it is important to keep receiving your doctor-recommended medical treatment or therapy. We understand that many people are hesitant to receive treatment at an emergency room or local hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • If you are involved in an auto accident that results in injuries, you must not wait to receive medical treatment. If you wait until this crisis has lessened, it may be too late to receive appropriate medical care,  your insurance company may not pay and could jeopardize the compensation you would otherwise be entitled to for your injuries.

We understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family. Rest assured that we will continue to monitor every case we take. This includes keeping track of court deadlines and court closures.

Video Surveilance - Personal Injury Claims

Technology That Can Help—or Harm—Your Personal Injury Case

by Technology

Video Surveilance - Personal Injury Claims

We’ve come a long way in how we handle personal injury cases, with developments such as cloud software making it easier than ever to transfer important documents, and video surveillance streamlining the collection of physical evidence in certain accident cases.

 

Of course, just as technology can be a boon to claimants and personal injury lawyers, it also has its downsides. In this post, I’m going to look at two ways technology can actually damage a personal injury case and end on a more optimistic note by listing three ways technology can help.

 

Technology That Can Harm Your Case

 

Social Media

1. Social media. There are a staggering 1.3 billion monthly active users on Facebook, and there’s a good chance you’re one of them. Unfortunately, your Facebook account may be a liability in your personal injury case. Even if you know you have a legitimate personal injury case, you can’t be sure that the defense attorney won’t search your Facebook account for evidence they can twist.

 

For example, if you injured your back, but post a picture of yourself dancing in your living room, the DA could point to that as evidence that you’re faking your injury, even if in reality you only briefly posed for a “dancing” picture to show you were keeping your spirits up. The best thing you can do in your personal injury case is disable your Facebook account and personal blog, if you have one. You should also be very careful not to post any information about your accident on any social media outlets.

 

2. Surveillance technology. Although it might sound extreme, some defendants who risk losing a lot of money to your lawsuit might hire a private investigator to search for evidence to use against you. In addition to trawling your social media pages, the investigator might use videos or photos in an attempt to show that your injury is not as serious as you claim.

 

This is important to keep in mind, because many accident victims have times when their pain is not as severe as others, and might take advantage of these “good” times to do things outside or in public that they might not be able to do on days with worse pain. While your case is ongoing, keep in mind that you may be under surveillance in public areas, so you need to think about the message your behavior will send.

 

Technology That Can Help Your Personal Injury Case

 

Technology that Can Help Your Personal Injury Case

1. iPads. It’s becoming fairly common practice for many accident victims to use iPads or other tablets as they recover from serious injuries. These tablets not only help them perform day-to-day activities that they might not be able to otherwise, it also allows them to stay in touch with their attorney using video chat apps such as Skype and FaceTime. It can even be used to help stroke victims or other people who have lost the ability to speak to better communicate with their family, friends, and legal counselor.

 

Google Glass

2. Google Glass. A law firm in Arizona has just launched a new program aimed at equipping personal injury clients with Google Glass. The program, called Glass Action, lets clients send emails and other important documents to their attorneys with only a voice command or the blink of an eye, which is especially beneficial for amputees or other injury victims who can no longer use their hands. It also allows clients to record their day-to-day activities, which can be valuable in proving that their injury has had a serious impact on the way they lead their lives.

 

3. Black boxes in cars and trucks. I handle a lot of auto accident cases, and I know that one of the biggest struggles for clients can be producing concrete evidence that the other driver was at fault. This could change if black boxes become mandatory in all new cars and trucks, something that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently pushing for.

 

Black boxes, which are already being added to some cars and trucks in the US, record important crash data such as speed, acceleration, braking, and even whether or not the driver was wearing a seatbelt. This is huge for the field of personal injury law. Imagine, for example, that a commercial truck crashed into a van and injured the driver, but there were no witnesses other than the two people in the crash. Black box data from the truck could be used to prove that the truck driver lost control and accelerated into the van, or didn’t start braking until moments before the impact.

 

The takeaway is that the face of personal injury law is changing, largely for the better. It’s becoming easier for attorneys and clients to communicate, and it’s also becoming simpler to produce concrete evidence (since the plaintiff always has the burden of proof). It’s important for both attorneys and victims to think about how modern technology can work in their favor, rather than against them.

 

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.