A woman wearing a surgical mask

Car Accident Claims During COVID-19

It is important to protect your legal rights after an auto accident. The experienced California auto accident lawyers at Maire and Deedon can help ensure that you have access to all the compensation to which you are legally entitled.

Unfortunately, there are other risks that you will face after an auto accident in the age of COVID-19. It is important to take steps to protect yourself from the spread of the coronavirus. Be sure to follow all guidance from the CDC and local health authorities. It can be difficult to know what to do after the shock and confusion of an auto accident, but it is important to remember to take the usual coronavirus precautions. Here are some important reminders to reduce your risk of being exposed to COVID-19 after an auto accident:

Always Wear Your Face Covering While Outside Your Vehicle

The first thing most accident victims do after a crash is to get out of the vehicle. Before you do this, be sure you are wearing your face covering. Whether you use a face mask, a face shield, a bandana, or any other type of covering, be sure to secure it over your nose and mouth before getting out of the vehicle. It can be easy to forget this after the shock of an accident. Most people do not wear face masks inside their own cars, so you likely will not be wearing one when the accident occurs. Take a moment to be sure everyone in your vehicle puts on a face covering before getting out of the vehicle

Maintain Social Distancing Wherever Possible

There are often a lot of different people on the scene of a car crash. The involved drivers and their passengers will get out of the vehicle. Other drivers may stop to offer help or to give their names as witnesses to the accident. Bystanders may come over simply to “rubberneck” and see what happened. And of course, you will likely need to call 911 to get law enforcement officers, paramedics, and other first responders to the scene.

All of this can unintentionally create a “large gathering” on the scene – the very type that the CDC has cautioned against since the beginning of the pandemic. While you might not be able to stay six feet away from the paramedics who are treating your injuries, you will not need to be that close to others on the accident scene. Maintain your social distance wherever possible, and remind others to do so, as well. 

Use Caution At Medical Facilities

If you are injured in an accident, you will need to get some type of medical treatment. Often this means multiple trips to multiple providers. You might have to see specialists or return for regular physical therapy appointments. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made medical facilities a dangerous place to be. Those infected with COVID-19 are concentrated in hospitals with recirculated air that can transmit the virus. This means that, even if your medical appointments are not in the same medical unit in which COVID patients are being treated, you could still be exposed to air particles that contain the virus. And, of course, others in the hospital (staff, visitors, etc.) could also unknowingly have the virus.

All of this means that injury victims must be especially careful when they attend medical appointments. Wear your face mask at all times (except when directed by your provider). Use all available hand sanitizers and other disinfectants. Wear disposable gloves, and use any other protective equipment that is available in the facility. Maintain social distance wherever possible. Remember: even if the medical facility is not actively treating COVID patients (for example, a physical therapy office), others in the building could still unknowingly have the virus and transmit it to you. 

The Right California Injury Lawyers For All Auto Accident Cases

The CDC has issued guidance on how to take care of our health during the global coronavirus pandemic. An attorney cannot protect you from medical dangers in a car accident, but they can protect your legal right to compensation. You don’t have to search all over to find the best car crash lawyers in California. The experienced accident attorneys at Maire and Deedon have handled all types of accident cases. Whether you were injured in a rollover, sideswipe, rear-end collision, truck accident, or other type of crash, we can help ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the claims process. Call (530) 246-6050 today to schedule your consultation.