Hold Negligent Parties Responsible for COVID-19 Exposure in Florida

COVID-19 is scary for all of us, but for those who have suffered exposure and experienced the effects of the disease, it can be utterly traumatizing and physically debilitating — if you survive. What may be even worse than getting the disease itself, however, is knowing that you were exposed to it due to the negligence of another.

Most entities and individuals have been working hard to keep people safe and better understand how the disease works and what can be done to combat it. However, there are always some who act in their own self-interest — or simply with a lack of reasonable care — and their actions end up putting others in danger.

If you believe that the negligent or reckless actions of another led to you or a loved one being exposed to the novel coronavirus and becoming sick or dying, The Law Office of Andrew Winston can help you to fight for the compensation you need and deserve.

Our injury attorneys are well-versed in both negligence law and medical malpractice, and both areas are likely to prove invaluable in these types of cases. Moreover, we are not afraid to take on even the biggest opponents, such as large corporations, to ensure that justice is done. Founder Andrew Winston has done just that for years, part of the reason he has been named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

What Kind of Florida Businesses Can Be Held Liable for Exposing You to Coronavirus?

Short answer? All kinds. Potentially.

Floridians have been exposed to COVID-19 pretty much everywhere, and if you can prove that an individual or entity acted in a negligent manner, it is possible that you could hold them responsible.

Nursing Homes. Already there have been numerous stories about coronavirus running wild in nursing homes and assisted living facilities due to bad policies, lack of enforcement of those policies, and more. Some nursing homes have even been accused of lying about the spread of COVID-19 in their facility to avoid financial losses. Skilled nursing facilities have requested immunity from lawsuits, but so far no decision has been made. Even if they are granted immunity, it would not cover egregious acts such as lying to families.

School Districts. Students, parents, faculty, and staff who were exposed because schools continued operating despite coronavirus may be able to seek compensation if they were harmed by the disease. Government protections come into play in these cases, but in certain situations, it still may be possible to fight back.

Hospitals and Medical Facilities. You know that things are bad when medical professionals are suing their employers because they do not feel safe at work. Workers are not only suffering from a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), many are being told that they are only allowed to wear what the hospital provides — even if they have better equipment that they can use.

Retail Businesses. Grocery stores that stayed open throughout the pandemic. Restaurants that advertised contactless pickup or delivery and failed to deliver on that promise. Barbershops that reopened without any safety measures to protect against the virus. There are all kinds of retail businesses and almost as many ways that they could potentially behave negligently in regards to COVID-19.

Hotels. You always want the hotel you stay at to thoroughly clean the room before allowing you into it, but right now that is more important than ever. Additionally, they must sanitize all other areas of the hotel, ensure their employees are not sick and engage in other reasonable safety practices.

Gyms. We are still learning a lot about the novel coronavirus, but one thing that seems certain is that people can pass it to each other by breathing. Moreover, when you are breathing heavily, the germs that carry the disease travel further. Finally, the disease has been found to live on materials such as plastic and metal for days after a sick person deposits it there. All of this makes gyms and fitness centers a perfect storm for infection — but it is even worse if those in charge fail to engage in proper safety measures.

Workplaces. Were you told that you had to come in despite coronavirus? Did your employer provide everyone with PPE? Were proper measures taken to test people, maintain social distancing, and disinfect workspaces?

These are just a few examples of types of businesses that could potentially be held liable for negligently exposing people to COVID-19. Countless others are out there. It all depends on the specific circumstances of your situation.

Ways That Florida Businesses May Have Been Negligent in Protecting People from COVID-19

With COVID-19, we are in a bit of uncharted territory. Very few businesses or other entities were prepared for this pandemic, and most were doing the best with the limited information they had at the time. Moreover, there may be some laws enacted that attempt to shield or limit the liability of businesses.

That being said, there are a number of things that could qualify as negligence in regard to how a business responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Here are just a few:

• Failure to reasonably sanitize against the coronavirus
• An employee or visitor exhibited COVID-19 symptoms and the facility failed to restrict entry to the visitor or tell the worker to go home, exposing others
• No pandemic response plan
• No COVID-19 safety training for the staff or management
• Lack of symptom/temperature screening for staff and workers
• Failure to limit or screen visitors early enough
• Lack of repeated and ongoing training of new replacement workers, especially due to high COVID -19 related job turnover

In order to prove that these things occurred and that your claim is not impacted by any new or existing laws, rules, or regulations, you need to make sure your coronavirus exposure lawyer comes with a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success.

The Law Office of Andrew Winston Can Help with Your Coronavirus Exposure Case

All signs point to the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changing many of the ways that we live our lives — at least in the short term.

One thing that should not change, however, is the ability of regular people to seek justice when they have been harmed by the negligent or reckless actions of others. Andrew Winston has based his entire career on that principle, and it will take more than a global pandemic to alter his beliefs.

If you end up working with our office on your claim, you can expect to gain a partner who will fight hard to get you the justice that you deserve and hold the responsible parties accountable for the harmed they have caused to you and those you love.

Want to learn more? Set up a free consultation today and tell us your story by calling 954-606-6606 or 866-306-9606 or emailing us at awinston@winstonlaw.com.