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.

With a new year comes new laws. While it’s possible a number of laws pass every year that do not impact your day-to-day life, it’s important to stay on top of the decisions state legislators are making. You never know what laws could apply to you in the future. In West Virginia, there are a number of new law changes coming in 2020. Let’s take a look at the requirements regarding REAL IDs, charter schools, and changes to DUI conviction records.

If you were injured in a car accident involving a police officer, were discriminated against by a government employee, slipped and fell in a post office, or were involved in any similar incident involving an injury or harm that was caused by carelessness or negligence on behalf of an official government agency, group, or employee, you might be wondering about your rights and how you can get the help you need to recover. While suing the government is possible, the process can be difficult.

You can take legal action against a city, town, county, or state government. The federal government can also be held responsible for negligence. There are, however, rigid steps to follow and deadlines to meet in order to avoid having your case thrown out. While any personal injury claim is bound to be complicated, going up against a government entity can make the case even more complex. You’ll need a strong legal team by your side to achieve the outcome you’re looking for.

Regardless of the type of lawsuit you’re filing, you may be worrying about how you’ll pay for reliable and knowledgeable legal representation. An attorney-client relationship should be built on trust. Financial hardship has the potential to get in the way of this if you feel you can’t afford the lawyer you want. That’s why contingency fees exist. They allow clients to obtain representation with no out of pocket money. Before you agree to a contingency fee, it’s important to understand how they work. The West Virginia personal injury lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC want you to have all the information you need.

We’re halfway through 2018, and it’s been a busy six months for West Virginian lawmakers. So far, they’ve passed over 240 laws and amendments, with many more still pending. Many of these were passed during the 2018 legislative session. Take a look at a few of the most significant changes so far to see how they may impact you and your loved ones.

Gas and Oil Regulations:

West Virginia passed three important pieces of legislation in hopes of providing grounds for solid futures for mineral owners. Protection to surface and mineral owners will be provided, along with a reasonable development platform for gas and oil operators. A big change will come into place when old leases from the late 1800 and early 1900s, previously held at small flat-rates, will now take into consideration modern horizontal drilling. In the long run, these laws will give West Virginia the opportunity to expand their gas and oil industry in a fair way.