Because of the spread of coronavirus, many businesses and schools are closed. All we can do is wait and hope this pandemic rapidly runs its course.
If you’re currently involved in a personal injury lawsuit, there’s a good chance that the spread of coronavirus has interfered with your case. Most courts are closed, and face to face meetings that take place involving only attorneys and their clients are being discouraged.
Because you are the victim of a personal injury, you may be facing mounting medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. By not being able to move forward with your personal injury matter, this could extend the time you have to wait for your settlement or jury award.
The Greenville, South Carolina law office of Angela Frazier 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?
Because the courts are closed, this means that your case can’t go to trial until the courts re-open. Without having a jury to decide your personal injury matter, your attorney could be lacking the necessary leverage to provide a resolution to your case.
What you can do is make sure your South Carolina attorney has the means to keep your case active and organized, working to answer to your questions, and meeting with their legal teams to keep things moving in the right direction. If your attorney’s law firm is paperless, they are best equipped to deal with this situation.
Arbitrations and mediations are both legal proceedings that could take place while the courts are closed. An impartial third-party help hears these proceedings you come to a resolution that will be recognized by South Carolina courts and law.
These meetings may be done through small gatherings in an office that can’t be shut down during the pandemic, or, in the alternative, they can be held via video conferencing for additional safety.
Additionally, your South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina attorney can push your case forward.
What Happens If My Lawyer Cannot Represent Me Remotely?
If you believe your South Carolina attorney doesn’t have the technology to represent you during the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be the time to find another attorney. Frequently 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 South Carolina Attorney to Represent Me?
Greenville, South Carolina lawyer, Angela Frazier, has experience representing clients in personal injury cases. She takes a caring approach and gives all her clients the attention they deserve.
Additionally, they have the 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 South Carolina attorney by your side.