While we normally think of our dogs as loyal companions always ready for tummy rubs and treats, there are unfortunate instances where they can become aggressive. While getting bit by a dog is always a dangerous and scary event, children and the elderly are at risk for even more injuries. In the event you or someone you love is bitten by a dog, it’s important to know the laws surrounding the issue and your rights.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 4.5 million dog bites happen in the United States each year. Nearly one million of those bites end up requiring medical attention for severe lacerations bruising, and concerns of rabies, capnocytophaga bacteria, Pasteurella, MRSA, and tetanus. Individuals often need antibiotics, stitches, rabies shots, or even plastic surgery. Of those 4.5 million bites, approximately 2,500 occur in West Virginia.

After a car accident, you’ll most likely be assessed by an on-scene medical response team before heading to the hospital. You or your loved ones may be worried about head trauma, broken bones, or other lacerations and bruising. While those injuries are definitely causes for concern, not every severe injury is visible.

If you’re in a traumatic accident, there’s a chance your body will go into shock if it isn’t getting enough blood flow. Shock can manifest in emotional and physical types. Emotional shock is often linked to the type of physical shock you are experiencing.

While there are five different types of shock, three of them are associated with car accidents. Cardiogenic shock happens when your heart is damaged to the point it cannot supply a sufficient amount of blood to your body. Hypovolemic shock happens when you experience severe fluid or blood loss, which renders you heart unable to pump enough blood throughout your body. Neurogenic shock is caused by damage to your nervous system.

At DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC, we pride ourselves on doing what we can to boost our local and nationwide communities. As part of that dedication, we understand the importance of education and how crucial it is for aspiring students and professionals to receive a college education. We decided to start a scholarship in 2018 that was specifically geared toward first-year college students. Our first period for the scholarship– Fall 2018– just came to a close.

We were humbled by the amount of applications we received as well as the overall quality of every essay. The essays were fantastic and we enjoyed reading them! We’d like to thank everyone who applied.

We’re pleased to announce we’ve chosen a winner.

Congratulations to Zoe Terner of Lake Worth, Florida!

Zoe will be attending George Washington University’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences in Fall 2018. She’ll be pursuing studies in History and Political Science.

Regardless of the type of lawsuit you’re filing, you may be worrying about how you’ll pay for reliable and knowledgeable legal representation. An attorney-client relationship should be built on trust. Financial hardship has the potential to get in the way of this if you feel you can’t afford the lawyer you want. That’s why contingency fees exist. They allow clients to obtain representation with no out of pocket money. Before you agree to a contingency fee, it’s important to understand how they work. The West Virginia personal injury lawyers at DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC want you to have all the information you need.

Before taking any kind of prescription medications, it’s important to understand what it will do to your body, and how it might interact with any other medications you’re on. This is especially true when you are taking opioids. While your doctor may prescribe you multiple medications, it’s always best to verify how they will interact to avoid any danger or unplanned hospital visits.

Opioid Definition

In order to understand the consequences of mixing drugs with opioids, you first have to understand what an opioid is.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a class of drug derived from the opium in poppy plants. Prescription opioids can be made from the plant directly; however, scientists can recreate the chemical structure in a lab setting.

After you file a car accident claim with your insurance company, you’ll hear from an insurance adjuster. While you will undoubtedly want to seek full compensation for your injuries and vehicular damages, the adjuster can make this a difficult process. If you’re unhappy with your initial settlement offer, negotiations are an option. Consider these tips before settling.

1) Understand Your Car Insurance Company and Policy

Before you make your first phone call, make sure you’ve got all your documentation prepared. You’ll want to have the police report, photos and other evidence collected at the accident scene, a list of property damage and expenses for repairs, all medical bills and expenses related to the car accident, and any notes on your pain, daily limitations, and medical consultations.

Keep in mind that auto insurance companies will want to offer you as low a settlement as possible. Large corporations, especially, often try to save money by paying you the minimum.

Errors in the operating room can have permanent, life-altering consequences. We trust our doctors and surgeons to perform medical procedures efficiently and with our best interests in mind; however, surgical errors are much more common than you may think.

According to a study done by Johns Hopkins, surgical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. They approximate that more than 250,000 deaths are caused by surgical errors every year. Our West Virginia surgical error lawyers are here to hold those medical professionals and hospitals accountable for their deadly mistakes.

Common Surgical Errors

Foreign objects are left in the patient’s body. 

A variety of equipment and medical tools are used during all surgeries. Too frequently, one of those tools is left inside a patient. This includes objects like scalpels, gauze, sponges, and clamps. Once left inside, the object can cause severe pain and infection. A secondary surgery and longer recovery time are necessary to remove the item and heal.

Recovery from your car accident injuries can be a long and difficult process, especially if the accident was traumatic. Back injuries, in particular, often require extensive and expensive medical treatment. A knowledgeable West Virginia car accident injury lawyer may be able to help you seek a financial award for your damages.

The human spine is delicate and complex. It is not meant to withstand the force of a car collision, which is why so many individuals in car accidents end up with back pain and injuries. The type of back injuries varies depending on the severity of the car accident and the age and health of the victim.  Here you’ll find a list of the most common back injuries experiences after a car accident and how they’re treated.

At DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC, we’re proud of what we can accomplish for both our clients as well as for our local legal community. So far in 2018, our trial lawyers have been honored with multiple awards in various West Virginia organizations.

During the June 2018 60th Annual Conference and Seminar, J. Timothy DiPiero was honored with the Stanley E. Preiser West Virginia Association for Justice Member of the Year Award.

This award was given to Tim not only based upon his years of providing excellent representation to clients in civil and criminal matters, but in particular based upon his efforts to take positive actions to improve his community and to help others in need. This award is the highest award given out by the West Virginia Association for Justice.

We’re halfway through 2018, and it’s been a busy six months for West Virginian lawmakers. So far, they’ve passed over 240 laws and amendments, with many more still pending. Many of these were passed during the 2018 legislative session. Take a look at a few of the most significant changes so far to see how they may impact you and your loved ones.

Gas and Oil Regulations:

West Virginia passed three important pieces of legislation in hopes of providing grounds for solid futures for mineral owners. Protection to surface and mineral owners will be provided, along with a reasonable development platform for gas and oil operators. A big change will come into place when old leases from the late 1800 and early 1900s, previously held at small flat-rates, will now take into consideration modern horizontal drilling. In the long run, these laws will give West Virginia the opportunity to expand their gas and oil industry in a fair way.