[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/coronavirus-affect-case-settlement\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/coronavirus-affect-case-settlement\/","headline":"How Does the Coronavirus Affect My Case or Settlement?","name":"How Does the Coronavirus Affect My Case or Settlement?","description":"We are living in a historic moment. How will handle the coronavirus crisis will be remembered for decades, and never forgotten by those of us who lived through it. Butler Kahn is maintaining a physical presence in our office and our doors are still open, but our firm is staying safe and doing our part… Continue reading How Does the Coronavirus Affect My Case or Settlement?<\/span><\/a>","datePublished":"2020-03-21","dateModified":"2026-04-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/matt-kahn\/#Person","name":"Matt Kahn","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/matt-kahn\/","identifier":25,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e04949bdf1f2184cdeab337bb39535a4c17c4beb3ad3cd47e5524b20b38274a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e04949bdf1f2184cdeab337bb39535a4c17c4beb3ad3cd47e5524b20b38274a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Butler Kahn","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","width":210,"height":93}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coronavirus-Effect-on-Cases-and-Settlements.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coronavirus-Effect-on-Cases-and-Settlements.jpeg","height":520,"width":780},"url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/coronavirus-affect-case-settlement\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0","name":"Meet Butler Kahn - Personal Injury Law Firm in Atlanta GA","description":"We specialize in personal injury and wrongful death cases. At Butler Kahn, we handle only a small number of cases so that we can devote full time and attention to each case we handle.\n\nWe help people and families. If you're looking for a huge law firm with hundreds of cases per lawyer, you should look somewhere else. If you're looking for a personal injury law firm that handles a smaller number of serious cases and provides personalized attention, call us.\n\nFor more information about the cases we handle, visit: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/ \n\n\u2757DISCLAIMER\u2757\n\nWe are not your lawyer. All content provided is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Any verdicts, settlements or other case results discussed are not guaranteed and must be evaluated on their own merits.\n\nButler Kahn: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/\n\nAtlanta, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Y3fCFkRVAn7jzGD16\n\nLawrenceville, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PaShwcicz5DQDFsD6\n\nRoswell, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/uTVtgfq3RspJ5QQbA\n\nJonesboro, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Jr2umQB8o32QaaRK6\n\nFree Guides:\nWhat To Do After a Car Accident: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-car-accident-lawyers\/what-to-do-after-an-accident\/\nShould I Hire an Accident Lawyer: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/atlanta-car-accident-lawyers\/when-needed\/\nGeorgia Wrongful Death Statute Explained: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/\n\nJOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA\nFACEBOOK LINK: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/butlerfirmllc\nTWITTER LINK: https:\/\/twitter.com\/Butler_Firm\nINSTAGRAM LINK: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/butler_law_firm\/\nLINKEDIN LINK: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/butlerfirm\/\n\nSEE OUR REVIEWS \nGOOGLE REVIEWS: https:\/\/search.google.com\/local\/reviews?placeid=ChIJoR24iRoG9YgRSH8GpDMLiMQ\nFACEBOOK REVIEWS: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/butlerfirmllc\/reviews\/","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lV5Qqojz3R0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lV5Qqojz3R0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lV5Qqojz3R0\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lV5Qqojz3R0\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lV5Qqojz3R0\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-06-05T17:06:46+00:00","duration":"PT2M39S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lV5Qqojz3R0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK. We do the work that lots of law firms skip. We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing. We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE. If you hire us, you get us. You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages. If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO. Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through. We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it. No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":1550}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lV5Qqojz3R0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":7}]},"about":["Personal Injury","Uncategorized"],"wordCount":950,"keywords":["Corona Cirus","Court System","Georgia","Personal Injury"],"articleBody":"We are living in a historic moment. How will handle the coronavirus crisis will be remembered for decades, and never forgotten by those of us who lived through it. Butler Kahn is maintaining a physical presence in our office and our doors are still open, but our firm is staying safe and doing our part to #FlattenTheCurve by allowing most staff to work from home.We continue to help our clients and push our cases forward.Coronavirus May Delay Cases and SettlementsThe coronavirus has affected the court system, which in turn affects claims and settlements. As a result of the virus and COVID-19, juries are not assembling, courts are not holding in-person hearings, and many depositions have been cancelled. That slows cases down\u2014in part because of legitimate health concerns, in part because insurance companies tend to seize any excuse for delay, and in part because the troubles in the stock market have caused insurance companies (which invest their customers\u2019 premiums in the markets) to lose money, which makes them more reluctant than usual to pay claims. Even cases that might not ordinarily go to court are slowed down because if there is no threat of a trial, insurance companies usually won\u2019t offer enough money to settle cases for their full value.We have found ways to move cases forward, however.\u00a0Some hearings and depositions can be handled through videoconferencing. Although most mediations have been postponed, lawyers can still negotiate by phone, email, and postal mail. Although most deadlines imposed by statute, regulation, or court order have been suspended, deadlines in settlement offers are still valid.\u00a0 When someone is hurt and needs help, negotiation deadlines or time-limited offers can still move cases toward settlement.Legal System Recognizes CoronavirusState and federal court authorities have recognized the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak. The Georgia Supreme Court\u00a0declared a state-wide judicial emergency and urged courts to close except for \u201cessential functions,\u201d which generally are\u00a0not defined to include personal injury or wrongful death cases. The Georgia Supreme Court wrote that under O.C.G.A. s 38-3-62, all \u201cdeadlines or other time schedules or filing requirements imposed by . . . statutes, rules, regulations, or court orders\u201d are suspended. The Georgia Supreme Court\u2019s order was entered on March 14, 2020 and has been extended several times now.\u00a0 As long as that order is pending, personal injury and wrongful death cases will move more slowly than usual.The\u00a0United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (which is the federal trial-level court in Atlanta) has also declared an emergency during the coronavirus outbreak. The federal court wrote that the Atlanta-based Center for Disease control had confirmed an increase in coronavirus or COVID-19 infections, and the Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, and President Trump have all declared emergencies. To protect the public, juries, court staff, judges, and lawyers, federal courts have suspended the summoning of juries and most in-court proceedings. The Atlanta federal court\u2019s order was entered on March 16, 2020 and, like the Georgia Supreme Court\u2019s Order dealing with COVID-19, has been extended several times.\u00a0 As with cases in Georgia\u2019s state courts, personal injury and wrongful death cases will be slowed down as long as the coronavirus interferes with the operation of the courts.[cw_review]Finding a Doctor for Your Personal Injury Case During the Coronavirus OutbreakThe coronavirus outbreak affects personal injury and wrongful death cases in more ways than slowing down insurance claims, legal proceedings, and settlements. As hospitals, doctors, and other medical providers deal with coronavirus patients, they are less able to provide other forms of treatment\u2014such as treatment for personal injuries that are not life-threatening, or even counseling services for bereaved survivors in wrongful death cases. Other medical offices that don\u2019t treat coronavirus victims may have closed their doors in an effort to slow the transmission of the virus or to protect their staff members from COVID-19.\u00a0The unavailability of medical treatment is a serious problem in personal injury cases.We know of some solutions.\u00a0 Some medical treatment providers are still open to treat personal injury victims. In particular, some medical clinics that focus on orthopedic injuries have been less affected by the coronavirus outbreak and are still able to see some patients. Our firm knows of some medical offices where patients can still be seen. Other medical clinics or practices can see patients through \u201ctelemedicine,\u201d which is another way to say that they assess patients through videoconferencing or over the phone. If you need to find a doctor who can help you during the coronavirus outbreak, we may be able to connect you with a doctor who can help.Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyers Working During Coronavirus OutbreakThe needs of our clients have not lessened just because of the coronavirus, and we have not stopped working. Our lawyers and staff continue to work on cases from our laptops and cell phones even when working from home. We keep one or more lawyers in the office each day and remain available by phone, videoconference, or email.If you are a client of Butler Kahn or would like for us to review your case, you can still reach us in the usual way. If you call our office at (678) 940-1444, your call will be routed to the lawyer or paralegal you\u2019re calling for, even if he or she is working from elsewhere.\u00a0 We continue to receive and send emails. If you are a potential new client, you can still call, use our online chat feature, email us at info@butlerfirm.com, or submit an Application for Representation.In short, we\u2019re still on the job.Stay safe! "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Does the Coronavirus Affect My Case or Settlement?","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/coronavirus-affect-case-settlement\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]