You may ask, “how can there be GOOD during the time of COVID 19?” Well, have you noticed the blue skies? How about there being no smog? Have you read that the rivers are cleaning up and what about bonding with your family?
From a lawyer’s standpoint, I handle Accidents and DUI’s. With the stay at home order there are no cars on the road and thus no accidents. Likewise with restaurants, bars closed and no parties, lawyers do not get calls on DUI’s.
The BAD is obvious. We have deaths, victims in pain, business’s closing, bankruptcy for some etc. The stay at home order is not to punish, but rather to protect society. This is much like a checkpoint being used to get impaired drivers off the road. Neither the separation order nor check point order are illegal. Clearly they are legal and positive for all of us.
UGLY: As a result of this virus, I predict that the lawyers who handle divorces, domestic violence and bankruptcy cases will have more than they can handle.
PI and DUI cases are not only reduced during this period with no cars on the road, but they also have a lot in common with respect to what clients should or should not do.
In both instances Silence is Golden. As a rule the less you share with the police or insurance agents, the better off you are. Don’t admit fault in an accident or admit guilt with a DUI. It is not always what you say to them, but what the other side THOUGHT YOU SAID.
Clients should also take down social media. Investigators for the DA or Insurance Company can save a lot of money set aside for investigation by just checking Facebook sites. Some accident victims post that they are going skiing or entering a marathon right after an accident. This is after they complained to the doctor how much they hurt and all the things they cannot do; arguably if they can play a sport then they were not that injured in the accident.
A client shouldn’t post that they were lucky not to have been stopped the day before when they were even drunker or any other post about their drinking etc. It is a good idea to also hire a local attorney who will know the judges and court employees and that should be done ASAP. Once one has a lawyer they can no longer be contacted by an investigator on either type of case.
Preserving evidence by writing things down right away helps. Smart cell phones can be used to take picture of parties, cars, streets and to obtain statements from drivers and wits.
The law arguably wins every time, no matter what kind of case one discusses. Whether you are found guilty or not guilty of a DUI you still lose. All defendants lose time and money from: the arrest; court trips; bail; retaining counsel; loss of earnings and dealing with the stress.
When an accident victim files suit, they can be served written questions, called interrogatories, or have their depo taken. Then one might be ordered to appear in court for a variety of appearances. Though a case is called for 8 am, it may not be heard until the afternoon calendar or it may be trailed until the next day or week.
Thus, there is no way you can truly win when you are in civil or criminal litigation. The stress you experience is taken it out on your significant other. This leads to subsequent domestic violence arrests as well as divorces and disharmony with the family……not to mention the interruption of business and the financial losses incurred therein.
Covid 19 is clearly Bad and Ugly, but if you put your glasses on you might see some good. However, you may have to increase your prescription.
DALE GRIBOW
Representing the injured and criminally accused
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT… CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER….THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”
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