Speed is a key factor in determining the severity of a motor vehicle crash. The faster the speed of the vehicles at the time of the collision, the more likely it is that occupants will suffer catastrophic injuries or death. High-speed crashes can rob accident victims of their health, mobility, mental capacity, and even their life. In 2019, speeding killed more than 25 people every day. 

If your life was changed by the immeasurable consequences of a speed-involved car accident, we may be able to help. At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we have experience defending clients who suffered catastrophic injuries or the death of a loved one in a high-speed collision. Our car accident attorneys advocate for crash victims harmed by another driver’s negligent actions. We serve individuals and families in Charleston, WV and the surrounding areas.  

Who would you point to if we were to ask you which motorists are apt to get caught speeding here in Charleston? Would your response perhaps be age or gender-related? Or would it focus on something else? Or would these typical generalizations not even make it on your radar?

While they are not overly common, there are at least a few places here in West Virginia that have escalators. Some establishments that commonly have these constantly moving staircases include multi-story office buildings, airports, shopping centers or malls, mass transit hubs, and sports arenas.

Many people fear using escalators because they’ve seen videos on the news showing individuals losing their footing and falling down. Are these isolated incidents or fairly commonplace? Are slips, trips, and falls the only injury risk escalator users have to worry about? Also, what injuries might result from an escalator-involved incident? Answers to these questions (and others) can be found throughout the remainder of the article.

June 3rd, 2022 was the first anniversary of Sean McGinley’s death. A Mass was held in his honor at Blessed Sacrament in South Charleston.

We remember our law partner and good friend, Sean McGinley, who died last year ago in a terrible car collision. Sean was an excellent attorney and a tremendous asset to our firm. His death left a huge void in our office. We miss his legal expertise, his management skills, his companionship and certainly his great laugh and sense of humor.

More importantly, Sean was a wonderful family man. We hope that Sean’s joy for living and the exemplary life he led will continue to inspire and comfort his wife, sons, parents, sister, and their extended family as they try to cope with his shocking death and his absence from their everyday lives.

After a car accident, you can expect that an insurance adjuster will contact you with questions about the crash. Sometimes, the adjuster will call you within 24 to 48 hours following the accident.

This conversation can be difficult to handle—especially if you are injured or dealing with issues like taking time off work or securing alternate transportation while your car is being repaired. Emotions and anxiety can also run high this soon after a traumatic event. If you don’t know what questions an insurance adjuster will ask, it can be even more difficult to come up with the right answers under pressure.

Most of us feel uncomfortable when the lights go out unless we’re planning to watch a movie or are going to bed at night. The discomfort we feel stems from perhaps an inability to know what surrounds us when we can’t see it.

Motorcycles offer a sense of flexibility and freedom that many people do not find when behind the steering wheel of a larger motor vehicle. Riding a motorcycle can also make more financial sense for some people, as they both cost less and have better fuel efficiency.

Once a year, the West Virginia Supreme Court visits the West Virginia University of Law in Morgantown. During its most recent visit on April 5, 2022, law students were given the opportunity to witness real cases as they were presented to the Supreme Court of Appeals. This annual tradition is an invaluable opportunity for law students to gain a fuller and more rounded insight into the importance of their chosen profession.

As a driver, you never expect the motorist in front of you to suddenly slam on the brakes while driving on the highway. But the simple fact is that you never know what the driver in front of you is going to do. Part of good defensive driving is making sure that you put adequate distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. This leaves sufficient room for you to react if an emergency arises.

So, what’s a safe driving distance on the highway? Read on to learn more about how to measure a safe distance between yourself and the car in front of you. If you have further questions about legal options following a car accident in West Virginia, reach out to the personal injury law firm of DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC.

Most West Virginia motorists know that they can hold the motorist who struck them liable for their injuries if they get hurt in a motor vehicle accident. Sometimes no one gets hurt in the crash, yet their car is seriously damaged. For example, such an incident may occur in a parking accident.