Being involved in a car accident is scary, and the aftermath can become incredibly complicated, especially if you sustained significant injuries in the accident. If someone else caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation under a personal injury claim. Without knowing who to talk to and how much your case is worth, it can be challenging to recover full and fair financial compensation, especially if you are contacted by an insurance company pressuring you to settle your claim.
If you or someone you care about has been injured due to another driver’s negligence, you should secure a Parkersburg, WV car accident attorney as soon as possible. At Tiano O’Dell, PLLC, we strive to offer excellent service and work to secure the compensation our clients are entitled to. Contact our office today to get started.
Our Parkersburg Car Accident Attorneys
- Our attorneys have more than two decades of experience representing clients in car accident claims. We handle our cases as efficiently as possible while always prioritizing our clients’ best interests and pursuing maximum compensation on their behalf.
- Our law firm has significant resources and cutting-edge technology that we use to prove liability and damages in personal injury cases. No case is too complex, and no defendant is too powerful for our attorneys to handle.
- We will thoroughly investigate your accident, discover and preserve important evidence, hire experts to help when necessary, and provide you with high-quality, personalized representation. Our attorneys will always keep you informed about the status of your case and be there to answer all of your questions and concerns.
The Reality of Car Accidents in Parkersburg
Car accidents are going to happen, especially in and around Parkersburg, the state’s third-largest city. During the latest reporting year in West Virginia, we know that car accidents were responsible for 268 total fatalities and 1,381 severe injuries. However, those numbers only show us a partial reality. Many thousands more sustain less severe injuries that can still lead to major medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering for the victims.
It is not uncommon for our Parkersburg, WV car accident lawyers to help clients suffering from the following injuries:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
These injuries all require medical attention, with many leading to tremendous medical bills for victims.
West Virginia Car Insurance Requirements
To be able to legally drive in West Virginia, drivers must obtain an insurance policy with the following minimums:
- $25,000 in coverage for per person bodily injuries
- $50,000 in coverage for per accident bodily injuries
- $25,000 in coverage for property damages
In addition to these requirements, West Virginia drivers must also carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This insurance is designed to protect the driver if they are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance. The UM minimums are:
- $25,000 UM coverage for per person bodily injury
- $50,000 UM coverage for per accident bodily injury
- $25,000 UM coverage for property damage
Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is another type of coverage designed to protect drivers when they are in an accident with another driver who does not have enough insurance to cover damages that resulted from the crash. This type of insurance is not required in West Virginia, but it is highly recommended. The minimums, which are what most drivers carry, will not come close to providing enough compensation for incidents of severe and catastrophic injuries.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
We know that insurance companies aggressively undervalue personal injury claims, and we know the tactics they use to reduce their financial exposure. We do not back down to insurance companies, and we always pursue maximum compensation for our clients. When you are represented by our law firm, you will never be contacted directly by insurance companies. All communication will go through our office, and we will handle all of the settlement negotiations.
Our attorneys have a reputation for success in the courtroom. We have handled countless car accident cases in Parkersburg and across West Virginia for the past two decades. When we represent clients in injury claims, insurance adjusters know that we are fully prepared and willing to take our claims to trial. Because of this, they are often more generous in settlement negotiations so they can try to avoid the time and expense of going to trial.
Comparative Negligence Laws
A common defense tactic is to blame the injured plaintiff for the accident. West Virginia follows what is known as comparative negligence law. This is beneficial to injured claimants who may have been partially at fault for an accident because they may still be entitled to compensation from defendants. In general, if you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault for an accident, you are still able to recover from other responsible parties and your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
In other words, you may be compensated for your injuries and damages, but your compensation will be reduced if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you were struck by a drunk driver who was traveling at 100 mph while you changed lanes without a turn signal, you may be found to be partially at fault. If the jury awards $100,000 in damages but deemed you to be 20 percent at fault, you would only receive $80,000 in total compensation.
What Type of Compensation is Available?
West Virginia is an “at fault” car accident state, which means that the driver who caused the crash (or their insurer) is responsible for the damages. This can include:
- Coverage for past, ongoing, and future accident-related medical expenses, including hospital bills, prescription costs, and physical therapy bills.
- Reimbursement of lost income if you missed work as a result of your injuries.
- Coverage for loss of earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work in the same capacity as before you were injured.
- Compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced due to your injuries.
- Compensation for emotional damages caused by your injuries, such as mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life damages
How much compensation a car accident victim receives depends on the severity of their injuries and the facts of their particular case. Typically, the more severe your injuries are, the more damages you will have for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Retain a Parkersburg Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a car accident in West Virginia, reach out to the attorneys at Tiano O’Dell, PLLC. We may be able to help you recover compensation for your losses. You can reach our Parkersburg, WV injury attorneys online or by calling (304) 720-6700. We offer free consultations.