We rely on our personal motor vehicles for everything from getting to work and dropping kids off at school to running errands and traveling for vacations. When an accident leaves you without a working car, you need a replacement, and you need it fast. So, how do car insurance companies calculate total loss value, and how can you make sure they’re paying you what you’re owed?

If you don’t know what to expect, you’re at a greater risk of being taken advantage of. That’s why our team of Charleston car accident attorneys ensures that every client we work with understands their rights and what they are entitled to.

We’ll Answer Questions Like…

• How do I know if my vehicle is totaled after an accident?
• How does the insurer determine the fair market value of my vehicle?
• What can I do to receive full compensation for the loss of my vehicle after a crash?

Exploring a new area can be an exciting adventure—or it can be terrifying and stressful. The Charleston car accident attorneys from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC talk tips for safe road travel in unfamiliar territory.

There isn’t always one person who is at fault in a T-bone car accident. But because T-bone accidents are often caused by traffic violations, this type of motor vehicle accident can be more clear-cut than other types.

More often than not, a T-bone car accident is caused by a person who runs the red light, misses the stop sign, drives drunk, or crashes into the side of another car while looking at their cell phone. Essentially, most T-bones happen when one driver is negligent and fails to yield the right of way to another.

You may have been following the rules of the road when you suddenly found yourself being T-boned by another vehicle. If that’s the case, you may have grounds to file a car accident claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. But before any legal action can be taken to recover compensation for medical bills, property damage, and other losses, you need to be able to conclusively answer the question: Who is at fault in the T-bone car accident?

You become involved in a slow-speed fender-bender while sitting in a traffic jam, tap the bumper of a vehicle as you pull into or out of a parking space, or lightly graze a pedestrian or bicyclist as you navigate a turn. These are three examples of what may seem like relatively minor car accidents; however, despite appearances or perceptions about them, these collisions can have far more devastating consequences to property and persons than you imagine.

Many motorists are quick to classify their car accidents as minor ones. They do so because they want to avoid getting the police or their insurance company involved, seeking medical treatment, or losing access to their vehicle while it’s under repair.

Right-of-way is the statutory right granted to drivers that allows them to proceed ahead of others on the road. Anyone who has a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit should have learned about West Virginia right-of-way traffic laws at one point in time, but we understand that it can be difficult to recall this information after weeks, months, or even years have passed. 

The attorneys at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC want everyone on the road to be as safe as possible. For this reason, we have created the following guide to right-of-way laws in West Virginia. 

Being involved in a car accident is a physically, financially, and emotionally traumatizing event. Depending on the severity of your crash, you may be left with thousands of dollars in auto repairs and a seemingly unending stream of medical bills. If you are unable to work after your car accident, making a full recovery might seem out of reach.

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?

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.

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.