West Virginia Car Accident Lawyer

even after deducting legal fees. If the cost to start your claim (often referred to as a retainer) is what concerns you, come to Manchin Injury Law Group. We do not charge anything upfront for our services.

Our car accident attorneys in West Virginia make fees affordable for every client by working on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us a penny in advance to begin work on your case. You also won’t pay an hourly rate for your lawyer. You will only pay if and when your lawyer wins your case and successfully obtains financial compensation for your car accident. If you don’t win your case, you won’t pay us anything for the work that has already been completed. That’s our no-win, no-fee guarantee.

If your car accident case does result in a successful settlement or jury verdict, we charge our fees as a percentage of the amount won. We keep this percentage reasonable – normally around one-third or 33 percent – so that we never collect more compensation than our clients. We will bill your settlement or judgment award directly rather than charging you out of pocket for our legal services. You will sign off on the percentage ahead of time to enjoy full transparency. To learn more about how much your car accident case will cost, request a free consultation at Manchin Injury Law Group.

Understanding the value of your automobile accident case is important when entering into insurance settlement negotiations. An insurance company is likely to try to take advantage of you by devaluing your claim. If you know ahead of time how much your claim is worth, this can give you an edge during settlement negotiations.

The types of damages that could be available in your car accident case include:

• Present and future necessary medical costs. The price of all medical care and treatments that you require, including surgeries, hospital stays, medications, tests and x-rays, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and disability accommodations.
• Lost wages and future earning capacity. The value of your lost wages, income, and tips or commissions from having to take time off of work because of your car accident. You can also recover future lost capacity to earn if you have a long-term disability that interferes with work.
• Vehicle and property damage repairs. The cost of repairing your damaged vehicle or replacing a totaled vehicle, as well as reimbursements for any other property that was lost or damaged in the accident.
• Pain and suffering. An amount awarded for your intangible damages, including physical pain, emotional suffering, psychological and mental anguish, scarring and disfigurement, post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of consortium, and diminished quality of life.

A lawyer can help you demand full and fair compensation for your losses. Your lawyer will know exactly how to handle an insurance company on your behalf for the best possible financial outcome. Hiring a lawyer improves your chances of receiving a settlement and resolving your case without a trial. If an insurance company is refusing to offer the amount that you deserve, however, your lawyer can take your car accident case to trial in pursuit of better results. Your lawyer will work relentlessly to obtain the financial compensation that you deserve for a West Virginia car accident.

If you fail to file a car accident claim within two years of an accident, you may lose your right to compensation. For this reason and many others, contact a West Virginia car accident lawyer for a free initial consultation as soon as possible.

The Manchin Injury Law Group is here to help you understand your legal rights as a victim of negligence following an auto accident. To schedule a free initial consultation with our law firm and attain a review of your legal options, please call us.

We represent many people throughout West Virginia, including Fairmont, Charleston, Clarksburg, and Morgantown.

• Economic damages, which include the cost of your medical bills and property damage, any loss in earning capacity, and the costs of your ongoing treatment or therapy.
• General damages, which address the intangible losses of your accident. These include loss in life quality, pain, and emotional anguish.
• Punitive damages, which are meant to “punish” a defendant for malicious or intentional conduct that caused the collision.
• West Virginia law requires that motorists carry certain minimums for car insurance coverage:
• $25,000 per crash involving one injury (personal injury).
• $50,000 per crash, involving two or more injuries.
• $25,000 for property damage.

If your accident injury damages extend beyond this minimum amount, and the at-fault driver only has this coverage, you may be able to obtain the rest of your compensation from your underinsured motorist coverage or the at-fault driver ’s personal assets. If you lost a loved one in a car collision, you and your family may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim. Consider speaking with an experienced injury lawyer in Bridgeport to learn more about your legal options.

• Rear-end accidents. These accidents usually occur when someone fails to assure a safe following distance and crashes into another vehicle. This may have a domino effect at high speeds, and whiplash is one of the most common injuries reported in rear-end collisions.
• Side impact collisions. People may know these as “t-boning” or “broadsiding.” These accidents often occur at intersections. Both property damage and injuries are more likely to be severe in these accidents.
• Rollover. Vehicle rollover is most likely to occur in single-vehicle accidents, and at high speeds. SUVs are more prone to this type of accident because of their higher center of gravity.
• Head on collisions. When the two front ends of vehicle collide, the results can be disastrous. These collisions can often be fatal, especially at high speeds.
• Sideswiping. These accidents occur when two parallel vehicles touch one another, and it’s more common on interstate highways. At slow speeds, damage is usually limited to property, but high-speed collisions can result in serious injury.
• Pileups. These accidents involve multiple vehicles, and it’s not uncommon for several parties to share fault.

• Burn injuries. Thermal burn injuries can range in severity and cause deep tissue damage. Burn injuries may also result from defective airbags.
• Broken bones. Fractures can be simple or complex, and may even require surgery.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury, and car accidents are the second leading cause of all brain injuries nationwide.
• Spinal cord injuries. The force of a car crash can cause trauma to the neck or spinal cord, which can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, or other loss of bodily function.
• Soft tissue injuries. These types of injuries, which include bruising and muscle strains, lead to swelling and inflammation.
• Whiplash. This soft tissue injury occurs when the force of a car crash causes a driver or passenger’s head to “whip” backward. The force of the crash may also cause trauma to the skull from striking the steering wheel or back seat.

After a car accident, immediately seek medical attention to address any injuries. Sometimes a personal injury won’t be noticeable until a few days following the car wreck. Ensure you keep all receipts of medical expenses and medical treatment to help strengthen your car accident claim.