Learn How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case

HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTS PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyer Chad Rankin Explains

Are you concerned about your personal injury case during the pandemic? Let us answer your questions about your injury case during Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to severe global socioeconomic disruption and suffering, and will, undoubtedly, have a long-lasting social, political and economic effect. Stay at home orders have been issued by the Governors of almost all of the states in the United States. In Pennsylvania, on April 1, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf issued an Order directing all individuals residing in Pennsylvania to stay at home “except as needed to access, support, or provide life-sustaining business, emergency, or government services.” This Order is in effect through April 30, 2020 (and is subject to extension, if necessary).

Even before Governor Wolf ordered all residents of Pennsylvania to stay at home, measures were taken to close certain businesses. In Orders dated March 19, 2020, Governor Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine directed the closure of “non-life sustaining businesses.” Legal services were deemed to be non-life sustaining businesses (except as required to allow attorneys to participate in court functions deemed essential by a president judge per the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Order of March 18, 2020). Thus, law firms in Pennsylvania have not been permitted to have in-person, physical operations since that time.

What do you do if you are hurt in an accident while law offices are closed and you’re subject to a stay at home order? It is always advisable to contact an attorney as soon as possible following an accident to ensure that evidence is preserved and you obtain advice from an advocate on your behalf. The attorneys and staff at Rankin & Gregory continue to work remotely from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are available to communicate 24/7 through our website chat, email, and telephone and SMS text messages by calling 717.656.5000. We are conducting virtual meetings through Facetime or Zoom.

As Pennsylvania courts attempt to balance the requirement of providing constitutionally-mandated court services with protecting the public from the COVID-19 virus, those with pending cases or claims have been dramatically affected as well. By Order dated March 18, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared a general statewide judicial emergency and closed the courts of Pennsylvania to the public except for certain “essential” court functions. By Supplemental Order dated April 1, 2020, the general statewide judicial emergency was extended through April 30, 2020.

The events that occur in a litigated personal injury claim – depositions, medical examinations, motions practice, pre-trial conferences, arbitrations and trials – are not considered to be “essential” court functions, and cannot be done in the absence of agreement by all parties to conduct such events remotely. Unfortunately, that means that almost all cases in litigation are now on hold until the courts reopen.

The health and safety of our clients and staff remains our paramount concern. During this difficult time, the attorneys and staff at Rankin & Gregory continue to work on our clients’ cases consistent with the stay at home Orders and closure of the courts. As always we are available to answer any questions about your pending case or to discuss any of our COVID-19 procedures.

Chad Rankin and the other personal injury attorneys Rankin & Gregory, LLC (RG Injury Law) have handled more than a thousand car accident cases against insurance companies. Call us for a no-pressure, car accident injury case consultation at 717.656.5000.

Chad Rankin, Personal Injury Lawyer Lancaster - Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorney

Best legal representation in the area
★★★★★ I was hit in a car accident and needed to seek legal help. I had spoken to multiple different lawyers in Lancaster County area and even a lawyer from the Philadelphia area. I had complete confidence in choosing to work with Chad Rankin, at Rankin & Gregory LLC, because he was extremely caring, confident, knowledgeable, and had many years of experience. I felt assured and hopeful that he and his staff would take complete care of me and my case, and they did exactly that. I am very thankful that I did search for the best legal representation in the area because it led me to them. I would highly recommend Rankin & Gregory, LLC to anyone who is in need of excellent, hard-working, and experienced lawyers and legal representation.

Review by: Kimmie Hankins  Reviewing: Auto Accident Representation RG Injury Law   Date published: 3/15/2020  Rating: 5 / 5 stars

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You may believe that car accident lawyers in Philadelphia are better qualified to win the highest compensation for your auto accident injury case. At RG Injury Law, we describe ourselves as big city lawyers with hometown compassion. Our winning record of maximum client settlements and verdicts are the result of personalized attention and communication with clients, thorough knowledge of vehicle law in Pennsylvania, and experience with car insurance companies.

While we call Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, our home, our PA personal injury law firm fights for clients with injuries and disabilities in need of personal injury lawyers, and Workers’ Compensation lawyers throughout the mid-Atlantic region from offices in Lancaster County that include service in Harrisburg, Hershey, Middletown, Annville, Mt. Gretna, Elizabethtown, Columbia PA, Lancaster City, Neffsville, Hempfield Township, Manheim Borough, Manor Township, Manheim Township, Gap, Ephrata, Lititz, Leola, Mt. Joy, Marietta, Akron, Denver, Millersville, Willow Street, Strasburg, New Holland, Paradise, Refton, Quarryville, Reamstown, West Chester, Coatesville, Exton, King of Prussia, and Malvern. RG Injury Law also fights for people with disabilities in the counties of Lebanon, Philadelphia, Chester, York, Dauphin, Berks, and Montgomery.

Best legal representation in the area
★★★★★ I was hit in a car accident and needed to seek legal help. I had spoken to multiple different lawyers in Lancaster County area and even a lawyer from the Philadelphia area. I had complete confidence in choosing to work with Chad Rankin, at Rankin & Gregory LLC, because he was extremely caring, confident, knowledgeable, and had many years of experience. I felt assured and hopeful that he and his staff would take complete care of me and my case, and they did exactly that. I am very thankful that I did search for the best legal representation in the area because it led me to them. I would highly recommend Rankin & Gregory, LLC to anyone who is in need of excellent, hard-working, and experienced lawyers and legal representation.

Review by: Kimmie Hankins  Reviewing: Auto Accident Representation RG Injury Law   Date published: 3/15/2020  Rating: 5 / 5 stars

 

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