COVID-19: What Does This Mean for my Personal Injury Claim?

Please note: The information contained in this article is correct as of 21/04/2020. Due to the ongoing nature of the coronavirus situation, guidance is subject to change. As a result, we would always advise you speak with a solicitor for specific advice about your claim.

In the face of uncertain and unprecedented times for us all, the effects of Covid-19 have been, and will continue to be, a changing state of affairs for everyone both professionally and personally.

Does this mean my personal injury claim will be at a standstill until the lockdown is lifted?

Absolutely not. As a team, we are adapting to a new way of work during lockdown by working remotely from home. That does not mean to say that business is not operating as usual, we are contactable as we would be if we were in the office! We are still speaking with our clients and insurance companies/solicitors, instead of face to face meetings that we are used to, these are now being conducted by way of video call.

Are insurance companies still open for business?

Yes, they are. Albeit that they too are working remotely so correspondence is taking place by email. We are continuing to settle cases on a weekly basis, meetings with Defendant Solicitors are still going ahead by way of video call for the larger value cases.

What if I have any deadlines to meet during my case?

Helpfully, the Government have released an amendment to the Civil Procedure Rules which provides greater flexibility for parties meeting Court deadlines and directions. Practice Direction 51ZA now provides that parties can agree extensions of deadlines by up to 56 days. Greater leniency will also be shown by the Courts when requests for extensions are being made. We are, of course, meeting all deadlines on a weekly basis to ensure that no deadlines are missed so we are working tirelessly to progress all of our cases as we ordinarily would in the absence of lockdown.

Here at Farleys, we are maintaining our service to our clients throughout the lockdown. If you, or someone you know has a query with regards to a Personal Injury Claim, do not hesitate to contact one of our team today. Call 0845 287 0939 or contact us by email.