All types of accidents have fallen dramatically because of the Coronavirus forcing everyone to stay home. But some legal experts are expecting an avalanche of cases after the pandemic has subsided and people return to work.
Since millions of American workers have been forced out of their jobs, new personal injury cases have dropped dramatically.
Herrman & Herrman, a personal injury law firm, state that the Coronavirus could lead to a wave of new cases in the coming months, though.
Why Personal Injury Claims Have Dropped
The simple fact is that personal injury claims have dropped from March to May because workers have not been present to face the risk of an accident occurring.
With everyone staying home, the chances of being involved in an accident that was not your fault are reduced.
This trend has been spotted in other categories too. According to the LA Times, road traffic accidents for California have dropped by 50%, when compared to the same period the previous year.
A Wave of Personal Injury Cases Could Be on the Way
The legal industry has cautioned that the drop in personal injury cases could just be the calm before the storm. Employers could find themselves liable when it comes to Coronavirus-related personal injury cases.
Businesses that stayed open and did not provide proper protection to its workers, or businesses that didn’t enforce social distancing, could be liable if the virus then spreads throughout the workplace and outside.
One such example is a Salem warehouse worker, who is in the process of suing Amazon over their Coronavirus response.
This potential wave of cases will be combined with the ongoing cases that have been paused because of court systems and legal firms shutting down.
If you need help with a Coronavirus-related personal injury case, visit Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. in San Antonio to find out more.
Heightened Risk as States Reopen
Legal experts are also cautioning employers about not protecting their workers as some states lift their lockdowns.
Scientists state that more waves of the virus are likely over the coming months. Furthermore, it is expected that Americans will have to live with the virus until a vaccine is discovered and distributed.
Employers will have to accept this new normal if they want to reopen their doors. Failing to protect their workers could lead to more personal injury cases further down the line.
What Should Workers Do if they Believe Their Employers Haven’t Protected Them?
Herrman & Herrman state that if an employee contracts the Coronavirus at work, or their employer is not instituting necessary protections, such as staggered shifts or protective clothing, they should consider legal action.
Although there are a lot of grey legal areas because a global pandemic of this magnitude has never been experienced in modern times, employees may have cases. With a few large lawsuits currently working their way through the court system, a judgment one way or the other could spark a flurry of legal action.
