As 2021 approaches, you’ll want to stay on top of any law changes in West Virginia—especially if that’s where you live. While law changes can happen at different points in the year, we often look to the beginning of a new year to determine what big changes are coming.

Not only will this knowledge keep you up-to-date on what changes the state is making, but you’ll also know that you’re continuing to abide by any applicable laws. So far, we know there will be changes coming to fishing, college information availability to students, and medical marijuana.

At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, 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 degree. We decided to start a scholarship in 2018 that was specifically geared toward first-year college students. The Fall 2020 submission period 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 Celine Moubayed of California!

Celine is attending UC Hastings College of the Law.

Car accidents are traumatic events. When one happens, it generally takes some time for those involved to realize what has happened. Vehicular damage and physical injuries are a real possibility—the latter of which should be attended to immediately. But, what about the emotional injuries? How does a person go about overcoming the guilt of causing a car accident?

The emotional stress of causing a car accident, even if you were only partially at fault, can take a significant toll on a person’s everyday life. Let’s take a look at the concept of guilt after an accident, trauma reactions, and what steps you can take to overcome guilt.

Even though we may see falls as minor, they can cause serious injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five falls causes a serious injury, like a broken bone or a brain injury. When your fall was caused by someone else’s negligence, like a wet floor without a warning sign, then your resulting injury was their fault. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of your injuries alone.

As a responsible driver, you have auto insurance that, at the very least, meets the state minimum requirements. You may also have additional coverage or policies for specific situations. In the event you’re in a crash, you expect that coverage, or the coverage of the other driver, to take care of your expenses. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

When you file an auto insurance claim, an adjuster is assigned to your case. They will investigate what happened and ultimately decide what, if anything, you’re owed. In the event your claim is denied, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options. Let’s take a look at why claims get denied and what steps to take when appealing an insurance decision after a wreck.

As an employee or potential job candidate, it’s important to understand your legal rights. Employees are protected by law against discrimination. In the event an employer breaks any of the laws and an employee suffers as a result, that employer can be held accountable through an employment law claim.

Drivers want to feel safe. When you’re out on the road, you drive carefully in an attempt to prevent an accident and keep yourself safe. Unfortunately, accidents still happen sometimes, even if you’ve done everything in your power to avoid a collision. When that happens, you want to be covered with insurance so that you don’t have to worry about the financial effects of being treated for injuries or repairing property damage.

But what happens when your insurance company tries to give you less than you deserve, or your damages add up to more than your policy allows? A Charleston car accident lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can answer your questions and help you get the settlement you deserve for your injury costs and damages.

Car accident statistics typically revolve around safety and topics like distracted driving or accidents involving teenage drivers. However, there are some other kinds of statistics that you may have not seen before. You may wonder if there’s a certain color of car that tends to be stopped on the road more often than other vehicle colors. Certain types of cars may be more likely to get tickets than others. Let’s go over car accident statistics that aren’t as well known.

When you have an allergy you know about, you don’t want to avoid the world for what might happen if you come in contact with it. Sometimes, people unknowingly expose you to your allergy and give you an allergic reaction. Even worse, if you didn’t know you were allergic to the substance, and this is your first reaction, it could get dangerous very quickly if your allergy is severe.

Whether you have an allergic reaction from food, medication, or another product, like cosmetics, you might be able to file a claim against the party responsible for giving you the reaction. A Charleston personal injury lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can help you through the process of filing a case against the person or entity who caused your allergic reaction.

As a driver, you know that accidents occur regularly on West Virginia’s roads. There are situations where you’ll benefit from knowing where a crash has happened and who has been injured. Fortunately, there are resources on how to find out about a car accident.