We are living in unprecedented times. Amidst the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, much of the world has come to a standstill. And yet, people are still getting injured at work, at home and elsewhere every day. When they do, they are often confused about what steps to take next in this chaotic and confusing time.
For example, one question we here at Enjuris have been wondering is: Are law firms considered essential businesses?
To get to the bottom of this question and more — and to help better understand how coronavirus shutdowns are impacting the legal sector and injury plaintiffs in various states — we asked each of our Enjuris Premier Attorney Members a few questions about how their team and their clients are coping during the pandemic.
Here’s what Montana injury attorney Tom Murphy of Murphy Law Firm had to say.
Q: Are law firms and legal services considered “essential businesses” in Montana?
A: Yes, “legal services” are considered essential in Montana, so Murphy Law Firm remains open and functioning — although we have locked our office doors to effectuate social distancing and protect our staff.
Q: How has coronavirus affected your law firm and your clients?
A: We are handling all appointments, hearings, consultations, and other functions via telephone conference, electronic conferences, and regular mail. Although we prefer in-person meetings, we remain able to effectively assist clients despite the inability to meet in person.
Q: What top concerns and questions do your clients have right now regarding their case?
A: Our clients’ primary concern is whether we will be able to continue to pursue their claims for benefits and compensation. While the coronavirus shutdown will obviously create some delay and inconvenience, Murphy Law Firm will continue to push our clients’ claims and we hope to minimize the effect of coronavirus as much as possible on their case.
Q: What would you like prospective clients to know during this crisis?
A: We are very sorry that we are not able to immediately meet you in person right now. However, do not delay in consulting with our attorneys if you have suffered an injury. We are seeing insurers engage in predatory practices and utilize coronavirus as an illegitimate excuse to deny benefits to deserving injured Montanans.
Q: What’s the best way for people to reach you during this time?
A: Murphy Law Firm remains available via telephone, email, and or fax. Whatever is most convenient for our clients will work for us.
Murphy Law Firm has more than 60 years of experience representing injured Montanans. We have recovered over 10 million dollars in wrongfully denied benefits for our clients in the last year. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no fee unless you receive compensation. View our profile and visit our website today to schedule your free consultation.