When you’re driving, you expect to encounter distracted or impatient drivers and people driving too fast or too slow, but you rarely expect to see tire pieces coming at you down the road or a large truck suddenly swerving sporadically because of a tire failure. Unfortunately, tire failure happens due to a number of reasons, and the results can be quite damaging.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 622 total motor vehicle fatalities in 2021 due to tire-related issues. In a 2012 Crash Causation Survey, the NHTSA found that 9% of tire-related accidents occurred with tires that already had problems before the crash.

Car accidents happen every day and while some of them may seem small, you may have unseen injuries. Concussions can sneak up on you and can have severe consequences, especially if left untreated.

If you’ve suffered from a concussion or other head or brain injury, even if it wasn’t from a car accident, our team of Charleston brain injury lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can assist you with compensation.

A doctor, nurse, or health care facility hurt you, and now you’re dealing with the aftermath on your own. There is help available, though. The Charleston medical negligence attorneys at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC have compiled information about some of the most important and relevant West Virginia medical malpractice laws.

If you have any questions about the content of this post or would like help understanding your own legal situation, we are always available to meet for no-cost, no-obligation case evaluations.

In this post, we’ll cover topics like:

• How long you have to file a medical malpractice claim, and what exceptions, if any, may apply.
• The types of health care providers and medical facilities that can be held responsible for negligent or reckless actions.
• The four elements of negligence that every medical malpractice claim must meet.

As a parent of a child, you don’t likely need any reminding that there are requirements in place for restraining your child when you’re transporting them in an automobile. And, it’s likely that you understand that such laws exist for good reason. However, if you’re a first-time parent or new to West Virginia, or perhaps an occasional caregiver, you may be unaware of the ins and outs of child seat belt laws in West Virginia.

Below, our lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC share what you should know about ages, weights, placement in the vehicle, and many other factors that dictate how and when a child must be restrained by a seat belt when traveling on our state’s roadways. So, continue reading what these requirements are to not only minimize the chances of receiving a citation but, more importantly, unnecessarily avoid endangering the life of a minor.

DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC (DSMB) is committed to advocating for wronged West Virginians in Charleston and elsewhere throughout “The Mountain State.” This commitment is evident in our recent filing of appellate briefs in a sexual assault, public transparency matter involving West Virginia University, and judicial ethics cases on behalf of clients harmed. These recent appellate cases filed by DSMB are representative of a small handful of cases that our experienced attorneys handle. Our lawyers offer free consultations to evaluate whether we, too, can help you.

Owning a motor vehicle is a big responsibility, and not just because you’re financially accountable for making monthly auto loan payments and maintaining insurance coverage. As a vehicle owner, you’re responsible for maintaining a road-safe vehicle that won’t endanger you or the lives of those around you.

Not everyone takes vehicle maintenance as seriously as they should, though. Here are 5 common mechanical problems leading to car accidents in West Virginia.

Does driving a passenger car not do it for you, and you want to experience the thrill that can only come with getting on a motorbike and traveling down the road with the open air blowing all around you? Below, we’ll outline motorcycle license requirements in West Virginia so that you can adequately prepare yourself to secure it and keep it once you have it.

Steps To Obtain a West Virginia Motorcycle License

According to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV), anyone wishing to travel on public roads by motorbike must first obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit before one of the following:

• A Class F motorcycle-only driver’s license
• A motorcycle endorsement (Class F) on your driver’s license

Everyone has burned themselves on something in their life, pulling something out of a hot oven, touching a frayed electrical cord, or anything in between. Most of the time, small burns fade after a few hours to a few days, but sometimes burns are more severe and leave a permanent reminder of the injury.

Electrical burns can happen in a variety of ways and are usually accidental and easily preventable. This type of injury usually causes burns and scarring, but not always. If you’ve suffered from an electrical injury, even if you don’t see any external burns, it may be a good idea to get yourself checked out by a doctor.

When we purchase any new product or use a piece of equipment at work or at home, we expect these items to work as advertised. Unfortunately, a lot of items aren’t as safe as they’re supposed to be, and these defective products can cause injuries or loss of work.

In its most basic definition, defective means having a defect or flaw. An item or product that is defective has flaws that can cause problems, sometimes catastrophic ones. Even when these faulty products are used correctly, according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, they will still break and create injuries to the consumer.

Nursing homes are supposed to be safe, secure environments in which elderly and medically vulnerable individuals can receive the care they need. These are often the safest places for older patients, especially those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. But can a person leave a nursing home? And if so, when is it safe to do so, and when is it not?

Key Points and Questions We’ll Cover in This Blog Include…

• What is elopement, and why is it dangerous?
• Who is most at risk for wandering and elopement?
• What can nursing homes do to protect patients from eloping?