Recently, nine West Virginia drug treatment programs were set to get $20.8 million that will go to additional treatment beds. State lawmakers set aside this money from lawsuit settlements that stated drug companies influenced the opioid epidemic.

Places receiving funding include Living Free Ohio Valley, Mountaineer Behavioral Health, St. Joseph Recovery Center, Westbrook Health Services, Valley HealthCare System, West Virginia University Research Corp., Marshall University Physicians and Surgeons, WestCare West Virginia, and Southern West Virginia Treatment Through Recovery Continuum.

Since the rise of people taking prescribed opioids, addiction has increased in the U.S. In 2012, it was estimated that 2.1 million people in the country abuse opioids. West Virginia is one of the states the epidemic has hit the hardest.

The opioid epidemic continues to hurt Americans through addiction and overdoses. Drug manufacturing companies are facing scrutiny about withholding information about how opioids work and how easy it is for people to become addicted. As more people are questioning drug companies and thinking they could have provided more information that could have prevented addictions and overdoses, more legal options are opening up and becoming available. If your health has suffered due to a prescription opioid dependence you feel could have been prevented, our Charleston opioid litigation lawyers may be able to help.

Concussions occur when your head is hit or shaken roughly. Traumatic brain injuries like concussions need immediate medical attention and treatment because they affect how your brain functions. People might have issues with cognitive functions and balance. Concussions have a few telling symptoms to look out for, like headaches, confusion, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

These injuries can be painful and it’s stressful to think about recovering when it wasn’t your fault. Paying for brain accident injuries shouldn’t fall on you. With the right legal help, you won’t have to worry about medical expenses. At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we can pair you with a Charleston brain injury lawyer who has the experience and expertise your case needs. Our personal injury firm understand what you’re going through and want to help you get back on your feet.

Truck drivers are often caught in a predicament: do what their company tells them to and receive work, or comply with the law and risk punishment from their company. They’re caught in an impossible situation. Many choose to keep their heads down and try to fight through the fatigue, but this is easier said than done. As trucking agencies demand their workers to drive past legal regulations, they risk the lives of everyone on the road.

The port trucking companies in Los Angeles put their drivers in dangerous situations and aren’t showing signs of stopping. Some of their truckers’ shifts can run for 20 hours a day in a six-day work week. While some truckers have admitted to breaking fatigue laws in the event of tragic accidents, trucking agencies continue to push their drivers far past their limits.

In an era when our nursing homes and long-term care facilities are already packed to the brim, one risk we must unfortunately consider when we have a loved one in such a facility is the risk of nursing home abuse or neglect. When facilities are understaffed and employees are overworked, abuse and neglect are very real risks—and do happen in West Virginia facilities as well as nationwide.

One of the ways the U.S. government has helped combat instances of abuse and neglect in nursing homes is by putting heavy violations and fines in place that facilities are forced to pay if they fail to pass regular, randomized health and safety inspections. These measures help ensure our loved ones are safe even when we can’t be there for them. Serious consequences like heavy fines make sure facilities do what needs to be done to prioritize resident safety.

In 2014, there were 3,978 crashes that involved trucks and buses. While this is a decrease from 2013, the crash number is still high.

Truck drivers struggle with driving for long periods and unable to find adequate places to stop and rest when they get tired. As a result, many drivers keep going even though they’re exhausted because they need to find a place to pull over. This makes them unsafe drivers and a danger to themselves and others on the road.

Sending a loved one to a nursing home can be a difficult decision. But at the end of the day, you’re doing it because you want your loved one to have the best care and the highest quality of life.

But sometimes, nursing homes aren’t what you expect them to be. They might not have the best people in charge, or their facility might not meet the standards that they should be meeting. When this happens, there’s a higher chance of your loved one potentially getting abused or neglected in the facility.

After being in a car accident, you’re going to deal with insurance companies that want to settle your claim quickly—regardless of any injuries you have or vehicle damages you need to get repaired. It may be in your best interest to wait before settling to ensure you get the full amount of compensation you need to recover. While insurance companies might sound pleasant or reassuring, their goal is oftentimes to get you to settle for less than what you’re owed.

The lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia don’t think you should be held responsible for a crash that wasn’t your fault. Our car accident lawyers will help you get the compensation you need to recover from the crash.

Car crashes can cause a lot of injuries. Some of the scariest ones affect your mobility. If you get whiplash, you might not know it at first. After a car accident, your body is in shock. This can mask symptoms of any injuries, including whiplash.

While it’s still possible to recognize whiplash, it could take a few hours or weeks for you to feel whiplash symptoms. Without proper care, you could have chronic pain.

When you’re trying to recover from injuries from a car accident, it’s stressful to think about how you’re going to pay the medical bills. It’s even more frustrating when the accident wasn’t your fault. That’s where you need a car accident attorney. DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia is ready to help you fight for your rights.

Nearly everyone has a smartphone now. We use our cell phones to communicate via text and social media. We’re trained to look at notifications the second we hear our phone vibrate or see the light blinking.

Unfortunately, we still have this impulse when we’re driving. The urge to check the notification and respond as soon as possible often leads people to make reckless driving decisions. Taking your attention and focus off the road for less than second can lead to a car accident where someone gets injured or killed.

Car accidents take a long time to recover from in every aspect. You have to heal mentally, physically, and still take care of yourself financially. Car accident injuries might leave you with hospital and prescription medication bills. Your injuries could prevent you from working. If you’re dealing with these stresses in West Virginia, the lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC are ready to help you get the compensation you need so you can focus on your recovery.