Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Car Accident or Truck Accident Lawsuit

According to Business Insider, Elon Musk reportedly told his Space X employees that they have a better chance of dying in a car accident than of dying from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Is this true? The New York Times recently reported on potential infection rates and death rates estimated by experts at the Center for Disease Control. The numbers look grim. Anywhere from 200,000 to 1.7 million people could die from the virus based on worst case scenario projections. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2018 alone 36,560 people died in car accidents. Elon Musk is wrong. More people could potentially die from the coronavirus than do those who die in car accidents each year. And, while it isn’t possible to entirely stop the spread of coronavirus, it may be possible to flatten the curve of the number of new infections we see in a short period of time. What does that mean? If people gather normally and if America goes about life as usual, we could see the C.D.C.’s projections become a reality. But, if people cancel large gatherings, practice social distancing, and if early measures are taken to prevent community transmission, we could see drastically fewer outbreaks, meaning that fewer people might get sick and overwhelm the health care system. The fear with an outbreak like coronavirus is that this is a disease to which we have no immunity, a disease which humans have never encountered before. There is no cure. There are no treatments available as of yet. If a person gets sick, we don’t fully understand why some people get very sick and die and why others recover. If too many people get sick too fast, there is the risk that hospitals might become overwhelmed. People who get chronically ill might need respiratory treatment and respirators, and this treatment is limited. We only have so many I.C.U. beds and respirators available. So, it becomes imperative that communities take early action to prevent outbreaks. This is a situation that should be taken very seriously.

As several courts in Texas declare closures due to pandemic response, individuals with pending court dates for their car or truck accidents might be wondering whether their court dates might be postponed or delayed due to Texas’s pandemic response. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended that for at least the next eight weeks that organizers of events of more than 50 people cancel or postpone their in-person events. New York City and Los Angeles have both announced public school closures. Even if your court date has not yet been postponed or delayed, public health officials are urging people to alert the community and to quarantine themselves if they are sick.

If you do feel sick, in the interest of public health, you may want to reach out to the Cooper Law Firm to discuss the next steps. It may be necessary to let the courts know if you have fallen ill so that your case can be delayed or postponed. This is a rapidly developing situation, and as more cities and communities close down public gatherings and community spaces, you’ll likely learn more about how the pandemic will impact your court date in the coming days and weeks. If the courts remain open and you have an upcoming case, the Cooper Law Firm is a car and truck accident law firm that is here to help you navigate any changes or challenges that arise.

The Cooper Law Firm is closely watching this situation unfold and we will remain in touch with our clients with new developments. In the meantime, if you are currently working with us on a car accident claim or truck accident claim, or have questions about a car accident claim, feel free to reach out to our office with any questions. Be prepared for the coming weeks to include delays or postponed meetings, or be prepared to have meetings over the phone or via remote services. As we learn more, we’ll be sure to let you know. And of course, if you are feeling ill, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can make decisions about how to help you reschedule your court date or meeting, so that your car accident or truck accident claim can continue to move along smoothly.

In the weeks ahead, if you are hurt in a car accident, or have questions about your rights about your car accident, be assured that the car and truck accident lawyers at the Cooper Law Firm will be here for you at our Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, and Marshall, Texas offices. Feel free to call our office if you have questions about a personal injury claim or the next steps you can take with your case. The Cooper Law Firm is here for you. Or, reach out to USAttorneys.com to get connected with a car or truck accident law firm at the Cooper Law Firm today.