West Virginia Personal Injury Law Blog

Motor vehicle accidents: The dangers of eating while driving

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

When it comes to distracted driving, many individuals in West Virginia and elsewhere may associate the concept with actions such as texting while driving. It is no secret that cellphone usage can take up a significant portion of a driver's attention and that such actions increase the risks that motor vehicle accidents may occur. However, distraction can take on a variety of forms, many of which can have just as detrimental of an impact on a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

According to studies, eating or drinking while driving continues to be one of the most common causes of distraction-related collisions. Studies indicate that such actions increases the chances a collision may take place by as much as 80%. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also states that such behavior is also a contributing factor in more than 60% of all near-miss collisions.

Motor vehicle accidents: Staying safe during the holidays

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

When it comes to holiday shopping, many individuals in West Virginia and elsewhere may choose to purchase most of their gifts as early as possible. As such, holiday traffic patterns may begin to see significant increases several weeks in advance. With the increase in traffic congestion, the risks drivers may face may also rise and understanding how to navigate the open roads during the holiday season could prove vital to decreasing the odds motor vehicle accidents will occur.

Studies indicate that one way to stay safe during the holidays is to understand that traffic may be heavy and allow additional time for travel. This can prevent the need to rush to and from destinations. Since others might not always heed such advice, finding ways to stay calm during the hustle and bustle of holiday traffic could also be vital to preventing a potentially dangerous scenario from turning disastrous.

Coal mine accidents: Service truck crash claims life of worker

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Coal Mine Accidents on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

While it might be no secret that coal miners in West Virginia and elsewhere may face a variety of risks as they operate within a mine, this might not always be their only concern. Above ground, workers may be tasked with using heavy-duty vehicles to transport materials and coal mine accidents involving similar machines can have cataclysmic results. One person has died following a recent incident involving service truck at a mine in a neighboring state.

The accident is said to have taken place at around 9:40 a.m. on a recent Tuesday. While many of the details pertaining to the incident remain unclear, officials have advised that a service truck crashed while hauling materials along a road at the mine. The driver of the truck was reportedly found unresponsive shortly thereafter and officials have advised that the worker passed away later on.

$34 million award in products liability claim re IVC filter

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Products Liability on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

There are many individuals in West Virginia and across the nation who rely on a medical device to assist in the treatment of a major health condition. Should such a device prove defective, there is a chance it could place the well-being of a patient at serious risk. A woman in another state was recently awarded a judgment of $34 million in a products liability lawsuit after a defective inferior vena cava filter caused her to suffer permanent damage.

The lawsuit reportedly stems from an incident in which the woman was scheduled to undergo an operation to install a removable IVC filter to help prevent blood clots from traveling to her lungs. According to reports, she returned to a medical facility nearly six years later to have the device removed. However, after an operation that lasted nearly three hours, doctors were forced to deem the device impossible to remove.

Motor vehicle accidents: Avoiding a drunk driver

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

While many individuals in West Virginia and elsewhere may be aware of the dangers of driving while impaired, similar forms of negligence continue to be a major concern. Those who driver while intoxicated could place the safety of everyone nearby at risk and motor vehicle accidents involving similar circumstances can have disastrous results. While spotting a drunk driver in time to avoid a crash might prove challenging at times, there are certain steps a person can take that could reduce the odds of a potentially dangerous scenario.

Studies indicate that one way to reduce the odds of falling prey to a drunk driver is to stay a safe distance away from all nearby vehicles whenever possible. Allowing sufficient space could help a person spot a driver who is exhibiting erratic behavior in time to steer out of harm's way. Since studies also indicate that the majority of drunk driving accidents occur at night or in the early hours of the morning, those who must travel during these times may find it imperative to proceed with caution.

The potential consequences of motor vehicle accidents

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

A collision can occur at any given moment and under a multitude of scenarios, and even a seemingly minor incident could pose a threat to the safety of those involved. With the extensive nature of medical expenses and the stress of facing a long road to recovery, Individuals in West Virginia who suffer severe harm in motor vehicle accidents may encounter a variety of hardships in life. While there are a variety of injuries one may suffer in a collision, some tend to be more prevalent than others.

Studies indicate that one of the most common types of injuries a person can suffer in a car accident is a back injury. Back injuries have a significant impact on a person's ability to perform everyday tasks and unfortunately in some cases, these injuries could lead to long-term or permanent pain and suffering. Whiplash is another common injury that can occur in a collision, and although the symptoms of a neck or shoulder injury may take time to manifest, they can still be exceedingly painful.

Wrongful death: Head-on crash kills 1 in West Virginia

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

The average person may give little thought to how stressful and challenging it could be to lose a loved one in a fatal collision. Unfortunately, such an incident could occur at any given moment and under a multitude of circumstances. A recent accident involving as many as three vehicles has led to the apparent wrongful death of a 27-year-old woman in West Virginia.

According to reports, the incident took place on a recent Saturday afternoon when a van came to a stop while the driver waited to make a left turn. Initial investigations indicate that upon approaching the van, the driver of a truck was unable to slow down and attempted to swerve out of its path and avoid a collision. Unfortunately, the truck entered oncoming lanes in the process and struck a third vehicle head-on.

Motor vehicle accidents: 3 injured in multiple-vehicle crash

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

When commercial vehicles are involved, a collision that could otherwise end up as a minor incident runs a greater chance of placing the safety of everyone involved at risk. Motor vehicle accidents involving tractor-trailers can have devastating results that could leave those involved with severe injuries and facing a long road to recovery. Three individuals were taken to a hospital with injuries following a recent multiple-vehicle crash involving a commercial vehicle in West Virginia.

Police responded to reports of a multiple-vehicle accident that took place inside of a local tunnel on a recent Tuesday afternoon. According to reports, the accident began when a car crashed into a tractor-trailer as it was attempting to slow down in traffic. The impact of the initial crash reportedly prompted a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles, one of which ended up overturning and coming to a rest on its side.

Motor vehicle accidents: Head-on crash kills 1, injures 1

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

While a collision can be dangerous under virtually any circumstance, those that occur when a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic run a greater risk of placing the well-being of those involved in jeopardy. Head-on motor vehicle accidents can have catastrophic consequences that could leave a person with serious or permanent injuries, or in some cases, leave a family grieving over a sudden and untimely loss. A recent head-on crash in West Virginia reportedly claimed the life of one person and left another in the hospital with serious injuries.

Law enforcement agents say they received reports of the crash shortly before 2:45 p.m. on a recent Wednesday. While many of the details surrounding the incident remain unclear, police have advised that two vehicles had collided head-on. They also stated that the incident left at least one person trapped with a vehicle and say that they were forced to shut down the road as they worked to free those involved.

Products liability: Hamburger buns pose hazard due to plastic

On behalf of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC posted in Products Liability on Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

Many people in West Virginia and across the country do not know how a number of products they use are made. While this may not bother some individuals, there is always the chance that something could have gone wrong during production and manufacturing that could cause a product to be more dangerous than anticipated. In fact, it is not uncommon for mishaps to lead to products liability claims due to resulting injuries.

It was recently reported that Conagra is recalling its Udi's classic hamburger buns. Apparently, when the buns were being produced, a dough scraper was accidentally mixed into the product. As a result, small bits of white plastic could be found in the hamburger buns produced from that batch of dough.