In 2015, a 20-year old woman had just finished an overnight shift at a clothing store and was driving home when her drowsiness took over. She had only slept 3 of the last 36 hours, which caused her to crash into another car, killing the other driver. The 20-year old received up to two years in prison, and her license was suspended for three years.

She knew she shouldn’t have been driving because she was exhausted, and her actions had severe consequences. This accident shows that driving while tired is just as dangerous as drunk driving because your reaction time is delayed, and you have trouble focusing on what you’re doing.

Each year, there are about 37,000 car crashes caused by drowsy driving that result in injury, and just under 1,000 that are fatal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA goes on to say that most drowsy driving crashes occur between midnight and 6 in the morning, and usually are single vehicle crashes with just a driver. So how do you know when you’re too tired to drive?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, your next move may be thinking about suing the other party for negligence. However, if the person was driving a company car, you may also have the option of suing the employer. Because car accident cases like this can quickly become complex, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer at your side. The attorneys from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC will do everything possible to get you the compensation you deserve.

We’ll find out the facts of your case through careful investigation. If we believe you have a valid claim against the employer, then we’ll work as diligently as possible to build your case.

While whether or not you can sue the employer can be tricky to find out, our lawyers will look into the details of your case and explain your options to you. Before learning more about how we can help, let’s look at some situations where the employer may or may not be held liable for an accident.

An accident could happen anywhere—a car crash, the workplace, in a sport, or even at home. If an accident is bad enough, it can cause serious injuries that are debilitating to the victims. Each year there are over 20 million traumatic injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Not only do traumatic injuries affect the physical and mental health and abilities of a victim, but they can also greatly impact the victim’s family in the same ways.

Even though intersections are a common aspect of driving, many people do not handle them with the caution they should. Some intersections are simpler and only have yield or stop signs. Some are complex and have turning lanes, stoplights, or more than two roads. In fact, about half of all crashes occur at or around intersections. Most of these are side impact or T-bone collisions, which have a higher death rate than other crashes. Intersections are especially dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, as a speeding car might not see them until the last second. No matter what, car accidents at intersections take a toll on all of those involved.

When an unexpecting driver is in a serious collision, the first matter to deal with is their physical injuries. While emergency medical services will ensure they get the care and treatment they need, there are other matters that will need to be addressed. Many people don’t realize the emotional toll a car accident can take. Crash victims often have a hard time readjusting to life after the crash, especially if they sustained serious injuries or the crash resulted in the death of a loved one.

If you find yourself dealing with the ramifications of an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s important to understand how to reduce your stress. This will allow you to focus on what matters and move forward.

Returning to your car only to realize its been hit can be a frustrating and stressful situation. Tens of thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and garage structures every year. While a number of those collisions result in injuries and fatalities, a significantly higher number result in property damage to a parked car whose driver is not present. It’s common for claims to spike around the holidays because more people are out and about shopping; however, your parked car could be hit anywhere.

Filing a claim for an accident for which you weren’t present for can be confusing, which is why our attorneys are here to ensure you receive the compensation you need to repair your vehicle and continue on with your everyday tasks.

Our vehicles get us where we need to go. When you lose access to your vehicle because of an accident, it can be difficult to determine how best to proceed. You may be wondering how you’ll pay for the repairs, whether or not the car is fixable, and what you’ll do until you have your car back.

If you’re in a situation where you’re waiting to get your vehicle repaired after a collision or need to start the process, there are a few ways you can expedite the process and make the waiting game a little easier on yourself and your family. Here are 5 tips to help you through the process of repairing your car:

Personal injury claims are supposed to help those who were wrongfully injured and suffered financial losses because of someone else’s negligence. However, the process can be difficult and take a long time.

For example, let’s say a distracted driver hit you in an auto accident. You had to go to the hospital, will need treatment, and can’t return to work until you’ve recovered. Before your settlement, you may be dealing with hefty medical bills depending on the extent of your injuries. In these moments, you need someone by your side. A dependable West Virginia car accident lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC will stand up for your rights.

Responsible drivers understand that drinking and driver should never mix; however, there are individuals out there that choose to disregard this knowledge. When they drive drunk, they’re putting their lives and the lives of others at risk. If you’ve been injured in a crash involving an intoxicated driver, our Charleston drunk driving accident lawyers are prepared to provide you with the legal support and guidance you need to aid in your recovery.

While the legal limit of blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent, alcohol begins to affect the brain at 0.02 percent. At this point, visual functions and judgment abilities begin to decline. As a person drinks more, their coordination worsens and their reaction times slow. When a person hits the legal limit and decides to get behind the wheel, their ability to concentrate declines, they experience short-term memory loss, they are unable to control their speeds, and their self-control is impaired.

Losing a loved one is never easy; however, the loss can be even harder to cope with if the death was unexpected and preventable. Car accidents injure thousands and take the lives of hundreds in West Virginia each year. In order to deal with the grief and pain associated with the wrongful death, you may benefit from understanding why the accident occurred.

In 2016, there were 250 fatal crashes in West Virginia. As a result, 269 individuals lost their lives. Many of these accidents could have been prevented. As a responsible citizen and driver, it’s important to recognize why these fatal accidents happen, so you can take steps to aid in the prevention of these occurrences.