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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

Law Offices of Braid Pezzaglia is available to both current and potential clients during this uncertain time. We are continuing to provide the best legal services that we can. Though we are not scheduling in-person meetings, we are available to you by phone or email.

We have been receiving a lot of questions from clients about the coronavirus. We have put together some COVID-19 resources below. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our office.

Coronavirus and Local California Courts

Santa Clara County Superior Court and COVID-19

The Santa Clara County Superior Court has suspended all non-essential functions until May 1, 2020. This date is pending and can easily change depending on Santa Clara County’s shelter in place orders and the Governor’s orders. You can find more information on the Court’s COVID-19 page.

San Mateo County Superior Court

The San Mateo County Superior Court has suspended all non-essential functions through at least May 21, 2020. You can find more information on the San Mateo County Superior Court’s website.

Alameda County Superior Court

The Alameda County Superior Court has suspended all non-essential functions through May 1, 2020. You can stay up-to-date about new court orders on the Alameda County Superior Court’s COVID-19 response page.

Judicial Council of California’s COVID-19 Orders

Current California law constricts the authority of the Chief Justice during emergencies. However, there have been orders placed. There are temporary, emergency rules of court related to COVID-19 in place. You can also find more information about the Chief Justice’s actions on their website. County courts have the option to adopt these orders, and some courts have adopted them. However, each county court also has their own temporary policies in place to address coronavirus.

How Will California Court Closures Affect My Personal Injury Case?

Currently, the courtrooms are highly restricted. Most civil matters are being summarily rescheduled and jury trials have been suspended. We understand that you may have concerns about your pending case. We have put together a blog about how COVID-19 may potentially affect pending and new personal injury cases.

Additionally, our office has received a lot of communication from court reporters and mediators about mediation and deposition proceedings through video conferencing. This is uncharted territory and we are adjusting to it as it develops. If you have questions about your pending case, please call our office to discuss potential options.

Should I Go to the Doctor After an Accident During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

For the sake of your pending personal injury claim or a potential new claim after an accident, we recommend that you seek medical attention while symptoms persist. We understand that many doctors may not be taking in-person appointments right now. However, you may have remote options. In our blog, we discuss potential options for receiving medical attention during this time.

Will Coronavirus Affect California’s Statutes of Limitations?

This is a difficult question to answer. Some states, such as New York, have implemented a statewide pause on statutes of limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that until further notice, the statute of limitations clocks are paused. However, California does not currently have anything like this in place.

There are already exceptions in place to extend or pause the statute of limitations in certain circumstances. Currently, it is difficult to understand how coronavirus may affect statutes of limitations in California. If you believe that your potential claim may be affected by California’s statutes of limitations, we recommend that you reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. We can help you determine whether you have a viable claim and your best legal options for your situation.

Local and State COVID-19 Resources

  • City of San Jose Website: Learn more about the City of San Jose’s response to COVID-19.
  • Santa Clara County Public Health: Santa Clara County’s shelter-in-place order currently extends through May 3, 2020. The County Health Officer may change this date.
  • Santa Clara County’s Essential Businesses: You can find information about Santa Clara County’s essential businesses on their COVID-19 page.
  • California Department of Public Health: You can find information about COVID-19 alerts and current cases on the CDPH website.
  • California.gov: California’s website has statewide information about COVID-19.

National Coronavirus Resources