During these difficult times, Blackwell Law Firm remains committed to providing excellent legal service for our clients, neighbors and Alabama communities. We are closely following public health developments related to COVID-19. We are monitoring information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the State of Alabama. At the law firm, we have implemented safety precautions to keep our clients and staff safe. This means temporarily adjusting the way we meet and work. We are optimistic that the collective implementation of these guidelines throughout our community will allow a return to normal shortly.
Our law firm is open and operational. We continue to work on our current cases. We are also available to answer legal questions from our neighbors throughout Alabama. And, we are available to work with new clients in personal injury claims.
While we prefer face-to-face contact, we understand the need to keep our community safe and to combat this novel coronavirus. We understand the need to limit temporarily in-person contact and meetings. Together, we must all take the shared duty for our community’s health and safety seriously. We have implemented procedures to protect our staff and clients.
Within our office, we continue to sanitize all areas and surfaces. We have hand sanitizer in all work areas. We have instructed our staff not to report to work if they, or any member of their household, has any symptoms. We have provided the attorneys and staff all the tools needed to work from home, if needed.
For our current clients, new clients and neighbors, we are accommodating meeting preferences through telephone and video conference options. We are available to discuss your legal issues or questions through telephone, email or video conference options. We remain open and available to help. We welcome your calls.
We understand you may have questions about the court system or your case. We are happy to answer any questions or provide any information. We have attempted to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, below. Again, feel free to reach out to us at (256) 261-1315 for more information or assistance.
Is your office currently open during normal business hours?
Yes, the Blackwell Law Firm is open. During these difficult times, we believe the legal profession must be responsive to our friends and neighbors. We remain open. We have implemented safety procedures to advise and help our neighbors. We are accommodating meeting issues through the use of telephone, email or video conference options as needed.
When and how can I contact you?
You can contact our office in several ways. Our staff continues to answer phone calls during business hours. Although we have taken safety steps, we continue to maintain some staff in our office.
You may contact us through telephone. Our number is (256) 261-1315. You may also contact us through email. We continue to monitor our email from both the office and home. New clients may also contact us via the contact form on our website. That contact form is also monitored for response.
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes. We are accepting new clients. Under normal conditions, we prefer face-to-face meetings. Our philosophy centers on hard work and preparation. Our approach is personal and work-intensive. We spend considerable time with our clients.
However, we understand current health issues may require initial meetings by telephone and video conference. We have implemented procedures to conduct new client meetings by telephone and video conference so that we may provide immediate advice and begin working for you. We can also accept documents via electronic means rather than in-office delivery.
How can I get updates regarding the status of my personal injury case or legal matter?
Our firm follows a team approach centered on hard work and preparation. Our team approach involves all members of the firm working closely with each client to prepare his or her case. We continue to work hard for our clients and their cases. We also remain available to discuss your case at any time. We have always communicated with our clients and will continue to be available.
Are courts still open in Alabama? Will my court date be rescheduled?
We represent clients in personal injury cases across Alabama. We have cases filed in Federal and State Court. Within our State Court system, we have cases filed in many different Alabama counties. Court proceedings have been temporarily suspended by many courts. We are monitoring court closures on a daily basis. We are available and ready to answer any questions you have about the current status of any court delays.
Court deadlines and proceedings will be rescheduled. During this delay, we continue to research and prepare our cases so that we are ready for hearings and trials when re-set. We do not believe in wasting time that could be used to research, study, plan and prepare our cases for the future.
Will scheduled depositions, mediations, arbitrations, or other legal matters occur as planned?
We continue to work our cases. Some matters have been delayed by necessity. However, we continue to conduct depositions and mediations through other means such as video conference whenever possible. We have conducted recent mediations by teleconference due to health risks. We also continue to schedule matters for the future in anticipation that the current health issues will return to normal shortly.
My case has a statute of limitations. How do court closures impact this issue?
Alabama has an electronic filing system for cases. Lawyers participate in this system which allows them to file cases remotely. If you have a potential case, your lawyer can file the claim. If you have a potential claim, we would urge you to consult an attorney so any case can be filed within the statute of limitations.
Can I still settle my personal injury or workers’ compensation claim?
Yes. During this time, we continue to prepare cases for trial. We also continue to settle personal injury and workers’ compensation claims for our injured clients.
In our Alabama personal injury cases, we continue to negotiate with insurance companies and their lawyers. We have even conducted mediation by teleconference.
Under Alabama law, workers’ compensation settlements require approval through either the courts or the Alabama Department of Labor. The Alabama Department of Labor is providing approval through telephone conferences in order to accommodate injured workers during this difficult time. We have used this process in recent weeks to resolve workers compensation cases during temporary court suspensions.
Can I still contact an attorney at this time? Is your law firm open?
Yes. Our lawyers are available to answer any legal questions. We have taken safety precautions in order to remain open for our clients and neighbors.
Where can I look for additional health and community information?
We closely follow developments from the CDC and State of Alabama. The website for our Governor contains recent and important Public Health Orders protecting our Alabama communities. We also follow the website for the City of Huntsville. The City of Huntsville provides regular updates and news related to COVID-19. Our local government and medical leaders in Huntsville have worked tirelessly to protect our health and safety. You can find these websites by clicking the links below:
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- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Office of the Governor of Alabama
- City of Huntsville, Alabama
If you were hurt in an accident and need legal advice, call the lawyers at Blackwell Law Firm. Our Alabama personal injury attorneys are available to answer your questions. You can reach us at (256) 261-1315. You can also use the Contact Form on our law firm website. Consultations are always free and confidential.
(256) 261-1315
