Many are concerned that the country’s much-needed economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic could be further delayed by the all-American pastime — lawsuits. This fear has created an impasse in Congress over the possibility of a fourth major stimulus package aimed at bailing out states and local towns whose budgets are going deep into the red because they are cash-poor.
Fears of Lawsuits
Many business owners, however, are concerned that their owners could be sued in the event a consumer may contract or spread the Coronavirus through no fault of the business owner. As a result of the global pandemic and the slow reopening of the country’s economy, many business owners are taking on added liability. Even if they follow all protocols and have the most sterile place in town, someone can still come in and spread the virus. At the same time, if a business fails to follow proper CDC guidelines and puts the public in danger, it should be held liable for harm. The question is whether Congress can pass a law that can address this delicate balance.
Coronavirus Claims
It is likely that lawsuits will result from the more than 28,000 deaths that occurred at nursing homes across the nation as a result of the Coronavirus. New York is an example of a state that passed laws approving liability protections for its healthcare providers. Not surprisingly, attorneys who have small businesses as clients want those protections to be extended to employers who may be at risk for claims alleging contraction of COVID-19 on their premises.
That being said, an injured party will have a difficult time proving in court that he or she contracted Coronavirus from a particular business’s establishment. An aggrieved party would have to show that the business where he or she allegedly caught the virus owed a duty to protect the public from contamination, breached that legal duty, and this breach is the reason why the victim became ill.
Even if the plaintiff cannot prove his or her personal injury claim, defending lawsuits can be expensive for businesses that are already being squeezed due to the economic shutdown resulting from Coronavirus. According to a survey conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), 70% of the small businesses surveyed reported a concern about getting sued if they opened up during the global pandemic.
Worker Safety
Even if legislators could pass laws shielding businesses, the reality is that workers could be put at risk. An example of this is the large number of workers — nearly 16,000 — at America’s meatpacking plants testing positive for Coronavirus and at least 63 dead, according to Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. This is a possible result when workers are crowded together in tight spaces without the appropriate protection during a global pandemic. Not surprisingly, workers’ rights advocates say that workers should not be put at risk and if they are, businesses should be held responsible.
A second epidemic consisting of both valid and frivolous Coronavirus-related lawsuits could easily follow the actual pandemic itself.
Nevada Attorneys
Lawsuits can be complicated, especially during these unprecedented times. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a Nevada accident during the coronavirus pandemic, contact the skilled Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Matt Pfau Law Group. Schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers to learn how we can fight for the compensation you deserve.
