With America slowly opening back up, we’re going to be coming in contact with strangers more often. For a while, the only way to get food was from a restaurant delivery service. Or, you could arrange for curbside pickup, depending on the restaurant. Now, we’re seeing outdoor seating open up for a lot of dining establishments. And it won’t be long before we see restaurants opening up with lower occupancy levels. While this is exciting for those of us who haven’t enjoyed being cooped up for the last few months, it is also a bit scary.
Just because we are seeing fewer cases now than we did in April or May, that doesn’t mean COVID has gone away. It just means we have managed to contain it to a certain degree. That doesn’t mean you and your loved ones aren’t still at risk. Now that you’re starting to venture out again, you may be putting your family at risk. You could come into contact with a co-worker who is sick. Or, you may have food delivered to you by a driver who’s carrying the virus.
Over the next few months, one of the biggest questions South Carolina personal injury lawyers will hear are going to be about COVID-19. A lot of people who did get sick feel that they know how they caught the illness. They wonder if they have any legal claim against the person who got them sick. And, for most of these people, they don’t like the answer we have to give.
It Would Be Almost Impossible to Prove This Sort of Case
In order for your Greenville injury lawyer to get you damages, they need to be able to prove two things. First, they need to prove that the defendant is responsible for your injuries. Second, they need to show that you were, in fact, injured. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this is almost impossible to do. The CDC and the federal government is doing their best to contain the spread of the virus. Even with all of their resources, they typically cannot trace contact between patients. This means that your Greenville personal injury lawyer will not be able to do this either. It is difficult if not impossible to prove the defendant was sick. It is even harder to prove that they made you sick. The odds of proving negligence here is slim to none. That’s why it would probably not behoove you to file this sort of claim.
Of course, there will be injury lawyers who promise they can get you thousands (or millions) of dollars for this sort of case. And, there may be cases that are valid. However, any professional personal injury lawyer in South Carolina will be honest with you. If you’ve suffered from COVID-19, then you’ve suffered enough. You don’t want to put yourself through a lawsuit if it’s all for naught.
Restaurants and Other Businesses May Be Immune from Liability
It’s also important to understand that many businesses will be immune from this sort of liability. As the governments are allowing companies to open their doors again, they are offering some reassurances against liability. If a restaurant or small business owner would be personally liable for COVID-19 infection, they would never reopen. They simply couldn’t afford this kind of risk. The state and federal governments understand this. While they won’t come right out and say these businesses have carte blanche immunity, they will put measures into effect to protect them. The point right now is to restart the economy. Liability for COVID-19 infection would make that nearly impossible. This is why it’s a good idea to take advantage of your free consultation before you make any decisions.
If You Have Been Involved in Any Sort of Personal Injury, Call Our Office Right Away
Now that we’re entering the hot, summer months, more people are going to be involved in accidents. This means more of you will suffer a personal injury now than you would in the winter months. If this is the case, you need to call our office right away. Let one of our experienced injury attorneys in Greenville review your case. We can let you know if you have a potential claim or not. While you likely won’t be able to pursue a claim related to your COVID-19 illness, that doesn’t mean you won’t suffer some other payable claim. Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. You pay nothing until you settle or win your case.
