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.