If there is a spill or wet floor, you expect to see those yellow signs pop up in the store or business. But are they required by law? Many times, these establishments want to notify their customers and employees of a potential risk. If they fail to do so, it can be an issue of premises liability.

Do stores have to put out wet floor signs? The lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC have an answer for you.

Children love playgrounds. Going down slides, climbing faux rock walls, or swinging on the swing set are all favorite things for young children to enjoy. And as parents or adults who care for younger children, we love being able to let our kids run and play and burn off energy in what we assume is a safe environment.

But sometimes playgrounds aren’t as safe as they’re supposed to be. Your child fell because a piece of the playground equipment broke, or they tripped over protruding shrubs that were planted too close to the slide. Your child has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, and you want to hold someone responsible, but who is liable, and can you pursue legal action?

In this blog, we’ll address the question, “Can I sue if my child was hurt on a playground?” and discuss how a Charleston premises liability attorney can advise you of your legal options.

More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States, and according to the CDC, at least half of those bites happen to children. Approximately 800,000 of the people bitten by dogs receive medical attention for their injuries. While dogs usually bite as a reaction to something, some dog breeds are generally more aggressive or more prone to biting.

Please seek medical attention if you’ve been bitten by a dog, even if you don’t think it’s that serious. Dog’s mouths carry all kinds of bacteria that can cause infections in humans who are bitten, and a “small nip” can easily turn dangerous if left untreated. And, if you suffered from a dog attack due to the negligence of a dog owner, our team at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can help you pursue legal action.

Whether you travel by foot to the bus stop, take your dog on an evening stroll, or regularly walk between businesses, chances are that you use a public sidewalk on a regular basis. Many publicly-owned sidewalks in West Virginia are well-maintained and safe, but there are also many stretches of public sidewalks that are cracked, buckled, bulging, or built at angles that pose a threat to pedestrians.

If you’ve been injured while walking, you may be wondering who is liable for a slip and fall on a public sidewalk in West Virginia. Holding local governments and municipalities responsible for their negligent or wrongful actions can be a challenge, and it is not always clear when they may actually hold any responsibility for a fall and resulting injuries.

Many people fear dogs because they’re well aware of the dangers they pose if they attack. An adult dog’s bite is far more powerful than the nibble a puppy with small and perhaps less developed teeth might give you. The older a dog is, the more significant damage it can likely do with its teeth.

If you’ve been bitten by a dog here in Charleston, WV, you might have mounting medical bills you now need to pay. You may also want to find a way to assign a monetary value to the pain and suffering you have endured. A dog bite attorney at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can help. Let’s explore how West Virginia dog bite laws address dangerous canine attacks and your right to recover compensation after they occur.

While they are not overly common, there are at least a few places here in West Virginia that have escalators. Some establishments that commonly have these constantly moving staircases include multi-story office buildings, airports, shopping centers or malls, mass transit hubs, and sports arenas.

Many people fear using escalators because they’ve seen videos on the news showing individuals losing their footing and falling down. Are these isolated incidents or fairly commonplace? Are slips, trips, and falls the only injury risk escalator users have to worry about? Also, what injuries might result from an escalator-involved incident? Answers to these questions (and others) can be found throughout the remainder of the article.

Most of us feel uncomfortable when the lights go out unless we’re planning to watch a movie or are going to bed at night. The discomfort we feel stems from perhaps an inability to know what surrounds us when we can’t see it.

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.

Your child spends most of their day at school during the school year, and not in your care. You expect the school to keep your child safe, just as you would. But some teachers or administrators may act negligently when it comes to supervision, protection, or maintenance, even though they are supposed to be acting in place of parents, or “in loco parentis.” Certain cases of negligence fall under premises liability, and you may be able to sue a negligent party if they did not uphold the standards expected of them and the institution.

Trampolines are a fun and different way to be active. Adults may see it as a form of exercise and kids typically can’t wait to get on one and start jumping until they tire themselves out. While trampolines may seem like an enjoyable way to pass the time, there are considerable concerns when it comes to the types of injuries a trampoline can cause. It’s even more confusing when you’re wondering who is liable for the injury.