West Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury is a legal term used to describe injuries to the body, mind, or emotions, which are usually caused by another person’s negligence. In West Virginia, personal injury law encompasses virtually all accidents and injuries including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, boat accidents, bus accidents, aviation accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, work accidents, medical malpractice and toxic tort cases.   West Virginia Personal injury lawsuits are civil actions in which monetary compensation is usually the desired outcome.

Personal injuries can occur in virtually any setting or circumstance, including the workplace, in an automobile, in hospitals, on public or private property, or because of a poorly designed or manufactured product, including medications and medical devices. Defamation of character, libel, slander, wrongful death, false imprisonment, assault and battery are additional types of personal injuries that may entitle a person to compensation in West Virginia.

Compensation for Injuries in West Virginia

When an individual is injured by the fault or negligence of another in West Virginia, he or she may be entitled to what lawyers call money damages. Personal injury damages are measured in terms of dollars and are intended to make the injured person whole.  In other words, to put them the injured person in as good of a position as they were prior to the accident.  Compensation from an injury claim may include recovery of lost wages, benefits, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.  Damages may also include money to pay for future medical care and to compensate for a person’s reduced earning capacity.  In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. Such awards are are intended to punish the wrongdoer and serve as a deterrent to prevent the behavior or practices that caused the harm suffered by the injured person.  To recover punitive damages in West Virginia, your lawyer will have to specifically ask for punitive damages in any lawsuit he or she files on your behalf.

West Virginia Automobile Accident Law

Automobile accidents account for the majority of personal injury lawsuits each year in West Virginia. Approximately 6 million auto accidents occur each year throughout the United States, with over 50,000 of those taking place in West Virginia. Those injured in West Virginia automobile accidents may be entitled to significant monetary compensation. In some instances, vehicle manufacturers and other corporate defendants may be liable for the injuries suffered, thus, potentially increasing the chances of financial recovery.  Choosing a lawyer skilled and experienced in West Virginia injury law will improve your chances of identifying these defendants.  If you’ve been injured in a car or truck accident, it is advisable to contact a WV lawyer as soon as possible because evidence can be lost or destroyed and there is a statute of limitations in West Virginia that requires that all personal injury claims must be filed within a certain time limit.  For additional information, you may find our West Virginia Car Accident Law Tips helpful.

Automobile Insurance Law in West Virginia

Due to the frequent reluctance of insurance companies to reasonably honor the accident claims of those injured, West Virginia personal injury cases often present unique challenges that are best handled by a lawyer experienced in handling these types of claims.  Hiring a West Virginia lawyer with extensive experience in dealing with insurance companies, experts, and medical doctors is usually necessary to get just compensation when injured in an accident.  An experienced WV injury lawyer will be able to assess the merits of a potential lawsuit and its probable monetary value as well as identify the most effective legal strategy to pursue. It is important to consult with a West Virginia lawyer as soon as possible following the injury, in order to preserve evidence and protect the ability to pursue monetary compensation through the courts.

Selecting a West Virginia Lawyer

When the unexpected happens and injury results, pursuing compensation with the assistance of an experienced injury lawyer may be necessary. A skilled accident lawyer will thoroughly review  the facts of the case, decide upon settlement strategies, and, if necessary, prepare for and take a personal injury claim to trial. While most West Virginia lawsuits are settled prior to trial, sometimes a trial is necessary to protect the victim’s right to compensation for hospital bills, lost income, pain and suffering, long-term care, mental anguish and other losses caused by the accident.

If you or a member of your family is injured in an accident, the law firm of West Law Offices specializes in West Virginia personal injury law and would be happy to give you a free consultation.   Contact us toll free at 1-877-943-9378.  For more information, please see our West Virginia Personal Injury Settlement Tips and our West Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Blog.  West Law Offices proudly serves Charleston, Beckley, Logan, and all of West Virginia.