West Virginia Personal Injury Law Blog

Motor vehicle accidents: Knowing the effects of impairment

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous, and unfortunately, it remains a major concern in West Virginia and across the nation. Motor vehicle accidents involving impaired drivers can have disastrous consequences. Although many drivers may be aware of the potential hazards of drunk driving, they might not know just how severely this influence can affect their ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Although impairment can affect a person in various ways, one of the most prevalent issues pertains to the impact it has on one's reaction time. Those who drive while intoxicated are inherently less capable of reacting to a variety of scenarios in a timely manner. Drunk drivers may also suffer from a lack of coordination, and either of these issues could leave them unprepared to handle a multitude of situations while on the open road.

Motor vehicle accidents: Head-on crash injures 2 in West Virginia

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

While all collisions have the potential to cause serious harm to everyone involved, those that occur when a driver enters the opposite lane have a higher chance of ending in disaster. Head-on motor vehicle accidents can occur in the blink of an eye and leave drivers will little time to react, and the results of these incidents can be devastating. Two individuals were rushed to the hospital following a recent head-on collision that took place in West Virginia.

The accident reportedly took place on a recent Sunday at around 2:30 p.m. According to authorities, the collision occurred when a southbound driver suddenly crossed into oncoming lanes and struck two other vehicles. The drivers of both the second and third were both rushed to the hospital for treatment of injuries, one of whom had to be airlifted from the scene.

Motor vehicle accidents: Rear-end crash injures 4

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

In some cases, a rear-end collision may cause little more than minor damage to each vehicle and put everyone involved slightly behind schedule for the day. However, sometimes, similar motor vehicle accidents can be more dangerous in nature, and they could leave those involved in the hospital with serious injuries. Four individuals were transported to a medical facility following a recent rear-end accident in West Virginia.

The accident is said to have taken place just after 6 p.m. on a recent Friday. Initial investigations indicate the incident occurred as the driver of a northbound car was attempting to stop for traffic. While she was slowing down, her car was suddenly struck from behind by another vehicle.

Motor vehicle accidents involving impairment may prove deadly

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

One person was injured and another was killed in a recent accident involving a suspected drunk driver in West Virginia. Impairment can affect a person's ability to drive in a variety of ways. The presence of such negligence increases the risks motor vehicle accidents will occur substantially, and the fallout of similar incidents can have catastrophic consequences for all parties involved.

Law enforcement agents advised that the accident occurred at around 2 a.m. on a recent Sunday. According to reports, a driver suddenly lost control of his vehicle and veered off-course, causing the vehicle to roll over multiple times before slamming into a nearby utility pole. Initial investigations suggest that one of the passengers might have been ejected from the vehicle in the process, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Motor vehicle accidents: Rage-fueled crash injures 3

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

Road rage is a major concern for many individuals, as anger can make a drivers do things he or she might otherwise think inconceivable. While in many cases, incidents of road rage may simply involve harsh words or derogatory hand signals, sometimes such behavior could lead to dangerous motor vehicle accidents. A recent rage-fueled crash in West Virginia has injured three individuals and left another facing criminal charges.

According to reports, the crash took place at around 9:30 p.m. on a recent Tuesday. Initial investigations indicate that a man driving a pickup truck was chasing a car full of teenagers. Police advised that the man eventually ended up crashing into the rear-end of the car, subsequently causing it to spin out of control and collide with a nearby house.

Coal mine accidents: 1 dies after being pinned between 2 objects

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Coal Mine Accidents on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

Coal miners in West Virginia and elsewhere may face a variety of potential hazards every day. In some cases, miners may work alone without anyone else nearby, and when coal mine accidents occur, they may be left without aid for extended periods, and the results of such an incident can be disastrous. A man has died in a recent mining accident that took place in another state.

The accident is said to have occurred on a recent Saturday morning. While the exact timing of the incident remains unclear, employees at the mine say they found the man at around 3:20 a.m. According to reports, he had become trapped between a coal rib and an air lock door, and upon locating him, nearby co-workers attempted to resuscitate him while awaiting the arrival of emergency personnel.

Motor vehicle accidents: Crash involving garbage truck kills 1

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

A 35-year-old man has died in a recent accident involving a garbage truck in West Virginia. Due to the substantial increases in size and weight, motor vehicle accidents involving similar vehicles run a higher risk of turning dangerous, or even fatal. Losing a loved one in a collision can be a traumatic experience, and such an incident could leave surviving family members in search of guidance on their options for pursuing legal recourse.

The accident is said to have occurred just after 6 a.m. on a recent Wednesday. According to reports, the man was driving north on a local highway when a nearby garbage truck suddenly collided with his vehicle while attempting to navigate a turn. Law enforcement agents suggest that the forks on the truck struck the side of the man's vehicle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter.

Coal mine accidents that can lead to worker injury or death

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Coal Mine Accidents on Thursday, December 27, 2018.

The coal mining industry in West Virginia has been going strong for well over 200 years. In that time, numerous mine workers have suffered injuries or lost their lives in coal mine accidents. The victims of these events or -- in the event of fatality -- their surviving family members may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses.

What type of accidents are common in coal mines? Mining, in general, is one of the riskiest jobs in the world. A lot can go wrong underground. The most common mining accident seen is cave-ins. Cave-ins are often caused by ground shifting, unsecured shaft ceilings and walls and cracks in the structure due to excessive excavation.

Motor vehicle accidents: Single-vehicle crash injures 2, kills 1

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Losing control of a vehicle and veering off the road can be a scary experience. Should the vehicle strike a tree in the process, the safety and health of everyone inside could be placed at risk in the process, as even single-car motor vehicle accidents can have devastating results. A 25-year-old man has died and a passenger was airlifted to the hospital following a recent single-car crash in West Virginia.

Law enforcement agents received reports of the incident at around 7 p.m. on a recent Thursday. According to police, the incident took place when the driver of a southbound vehicle suddenly lost control and veered off the road. The vehicle proceeded to strike a nearby tree soon thereafter, causing the driver and two passengers to become trapped within.

Motor vehicle accidents: Distraction comes in numerous forms

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

When it comes to operating a motor vehicle, even a moment of distraction could create a potentially dangerous scenario. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents, and each of these incidents has the unfortunate chance of ending in catastrophe. While there are a multitude of circumstances in which drivers in West Virginia could become distracted while operating a vehicle, some tend to be more prevalent than others.

The use of cell phones is one of the most common causes of distraction among drivers. Carrying on a conversation or attempting to read a text message inherently causes drivers to either divert a portion of their attention off the task at hand or take their eyes off the road and a hand off the wheel. Even if the action is only momentary, a second might be all it takes to create a potentially hazardous situation.