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Charleston, WV
Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a car accident in Kanawha County or another nearby community in the Metro Valley? Did you lose a family member in a fatal crash because of a reckless or negligent driver? You may be able to file a motor vehicle accident claim.
Legal action can bring the at-fault party to justice and obtain compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs, and other economic and noneconomic losses. Our car accident lawyers in Charleston, WV are here to help.
Warner Law Offices, PLLC offers free case evaluations so you can discuss what happened with qualified attorneys near you. Contact our Charleston law offices and discover why so many people have trusted our team for legal representation.
- Why It’s in Your Best Interests to Hire the Car Accident Lawyers at Warner Law Offices, PLLC
- We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in West Virginia
- How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
- Damages Available to West Virginia Car Accident Victims
- An Overview of West Virginia’s Key Car Accident Laws
- Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases in West Virginia?
- When Should You Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Get a Free Consultation With Our Charleston, WV Car Accident Attorneys
Since 2000, our law firm has secured millions for clients in car accident lawsuits and other personal injury claims. We provide prompt, professional service and work to ensure that every aspect of your claim is thoroughly investigated, documented, and presented for payment against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or another liable party.
The car accident lawyers at Warner Law Offices, PLLC can help you fight to maximize recovery for your car accident settlement.
If you’re in a bad car accident, what you really need is a trusted, experienced team. Our team has been handling these types of cases for over 20 years and it doesn’t cost the client anything unless we collect money for them. If now’s the time, call 345-6789.
Why It’s in Your Best Interests to Hire the Car Accident Lawyers at Warner Law Offices, PLLC
A serious motor vehicle wreck can make the future seem uncertain. How will you afford your medical bills if your injuries prevent you from working? When will you be able to get your car repaired or replaced? Who is responsible for your pain and suffering? How can you hold them accountable?
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, our Charleston, WV personal injury lawyers understand the many challenges car accident victims face. Our goal is to help you get back on your feet and recover the maximum compensation you are owed.
Boutique Law Firm, Big Results
Our award-winning West Virginia trial attorneys provide a level of service that you would expect from a small law firm, but we also offer the experience and resources to rival the most formidable law offices in the nation.
In addition, our team of attorneys was born and raised here in West Virginia. Our team knows local judges, local medical professionals, the court system, and regional laws in the Metro Valley, all of which can help support your car accident case.
These are among the many reasons why attorney Bobby Warner and the entire team here have been named Top 100 Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers and Best Attorneys of America by Rue Ratings.
Attorneys Who Provide Peace of Mind
When you choose our top-rated car accident lawyers to represent you, you will give yourself peace of mind. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our skilled team of car accident attorneys can:
- Handle every aspect of your motor vehicle claim from start to finish
- Provide detailed answers to your most pressing case-related questions
- Offer guidance and support throughout the claims process
- Thoroughly investigate the details of your Charleston car crash
- Gather evidence that can be used to support an aggressive claim for damages
- Work closely with accident reconstructionists, forensic experts, medical professionals, and other collision specialists
- Defend against victim-blaming tactics specifically designed to hurt your chances of making a full financial recovery
- Represent you during settlement negotiations with the insurance company and other parties
- Prepare to reject unreasonably low offers and litigate your car accident lawsuit at trial, if necessary
If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, we know that the days, weeks, and months that follow a car accident can be incredibly stressful. You are dealing with painful injuries, coping with the trauma of the wreck, and trying to make ends meet.
We want to make things easier for you, which is why we work on contingency. That means you pay nothing unless our West Virginia car accident lawyers win your case.
We assume the risks. You enjoy the benefits of a successful claim or lawsuit. Call our legal team in Charleston today and learn how we can help you make the most of your car accident case.
"After a car accident, you need a law firm you can trust. When you hire Warner Law Offices, it's like coming home. I was born and raised in West Virginia, and went to school right here in West Virginia. I know the local courts, the local doctors, and how to negotiate the best settlement. When a case goes to trial, I know how to relate to local juries. If you've been injured in a car wreck, give us a call."
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in West Virginia
Car accidents are all unique, so it is important to work with a law firm that has extensive experience in different types of collision litigation.
For more than 20 years, Warner Law Offices, PLLC has provided effective legal representation to clients injured in:
- Rear-end accidents in Charleston, WV
- Rollovers
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone collisions
- Sideswipes
- SUV and pickup truck wrecks
- Bicycle-vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian-vehicle accidents in West Virginia
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Car and truck accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured and underinsured drivers
- Drunk driving car accidents
- Distracted driving car accidents in Charleston, WV
- Accidents caused by auto defects
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Work zone car accidents
- Fatal car accidents
Reach out to a member of our legal team if you have been involved in an auto collision in Charleston, West Virginia. We are here to answer your questions and provide the guidance you need—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Contrary to what you might have heard, there is no standard value for a car accident injury claim. Everybody’s case will be different because the circumstances of each crash are unique.
Many factors will be important when assessing how much money you can recover in a car accident lawsuit:
- What types of car accident injuries have you suffered?
- What is your age?
- Has your earning capacity changed since your car accident?
- What kind of long-term treatment might you need to recover from your injuries?
- How has the accident affected your psychological or emotional well-being?
- Did you contribute to the wreck in any way?
- What steps did you take to mitigate your injuries?
The car accident attorney you choose can have a huge impact on the success and outcome of your case. You deserve to work with a passionate lawyer who has experience handling all types of car accident cases and a demonstrated ability to win.
With Warner Law Offices, PLLC, you get the best of both worlds—the service of a small firm and the proven results of a much larger legal practice. We have won tens of millions of dollars on behalf of crash victims, and we are ready to fight to get you the results you deserve.
- 20+ Years of Experience
- Award Winning Law Firm
- No Fees Unless You Win
- Millions Won For Our Clients
Damages Available to West Virginia Car Accident Victims
The value of your car accident claim will also depend on the types of damages you have suffered. In West Virginia, compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic damages and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages After a Car Crash
Economic damages are awarded to cover the financial losses directly related to the crash. Examples include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Long-term medical treatment
- Physical rehabilitation
- Occupational therapy
- Lost wages
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Property damage
- Funeral bills if a car accident results in wrongful death
Noneconomic Damages After a Car Crash
Noneconomic damages are paid solely to make up for the unexpected life changes and trauma that you experience because you were in a collision. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Embarrassment
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages After a Car Crash
In rare cases, punitive damages might also be available in a car accident lawsuit. However, a jury must be able to find clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with malice or displayed a conscious, reckless, and outrageous indifference to the victim’s safety.
Our auto accident lawyers will coordinate with trusted experts and specialists, working hard to uncover the true costs and consequences of your crash.
An Overview of West Virginia’s Key Car Accident Laws
Each state has its own laws that govern insurance as well as how crash victims recover compensation after a car accident. West Virginia is no exception. Here is a breakdown of West Virginia laws that can affect your car accident case.
West Virginia Is an At-Fault State
When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, most states follow either a no-fault or fault-based system for recovery. West Virginia follows a fault-based system, also known as an at-fault or tort system.
If an individual is found “at fault,” they are deemed responsible for the accident and the subsequent damage or injuries that occurred. This means that their insurance will cover the cost of repairs, injuries, and other damages experienced by those affected by the motor vehicle accident.
How West Virginia’s At-Fault System Can Affect Your Claim
You will need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to receive compensation for your medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, and other damages.
This means you have to prove that the other person or party was to blame for the crash that caused your injuries and losses. This is true of nearly all kinds of car accidents, including those involving distracted or drunk drivers, rideshare drivers for Uber and Lyft, commercial vehicles, and collisions with bicyclists and pedestrians.
While the at-fault party may differ from the liable party in some cases, you will still need to prove that someone else is responsible.
Comparative Negligence: What If Both Drivers Are at Fault?
The state of West Virginia recognizes that two or more drivers may share some of the fault for an accident and that this should not bar an injured party from recovering compensation. That is where comparative negligence comes in.
Comparative negligence is a rule that allows an individual to file a personal injury claim even if they share some of the blame for the accident or event that caused the injury. West Virginia is a modified comparative negligence state.
How Modified Comparative Fault Can Affect a Car Accident Case
Under West Virginia’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can file an accident claim if you were less than 51 percent at fault for the crash. Regardless of the degree of fault, your total recovery will be reduced in direct proportion to your at-fault percentage.
For example, if the court finds that you were 25 percent to blame for a crash, your total recovery will be reduced by 25 percent. You will only be able to receive up to 75 percent of the amount you would have otherwise received.
How Warner Law Offices, PLLC Can Help
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, our top-rated West Virginia car accident attorneys will anticipate the insurance company’s efforts to blame you for the wreck. These allegations of shared fault are often thinly veiled attempts to scare you into accepting a lowball settlement or give up on your claim altogether.
Our lawyers are not afraid to fight back on your behalf. We will demand hard evidence to support allegations of shared fault and work to discredit any proof the insurance company presents. If you are partly responsible for your car accident, we will dig deep to find evidence that limits your liability so that your right to partial compensation is preserved.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
When you first step away from the scene of a car accident, you may feel fine. This is partly because of the adrenaline running through your body. As the minutes pass, you may realize you are in quite a bit of pain and suffering from one or more serious injuries.
Some of the most common injuries resulting from a car accident include:
- Whiplash Injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Neck injuries
- Amputation
- Burn injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest injury
You may experience a range of symptoms stemming from these or other injuries, such as headaches, pain, tingling, and numbness. You may also notice psychological side effects like emotional distress or memory problems, both of which could be signs of a traumatic brain injury.
No matter the extent of your injuries, it is important to seek medical help right after an accident even if you feel perfectly fine in the moment. For some crash victims, the full extent of their injuries may not be apparent for days.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, a two-year statute of limitations applies to most car accident lawsuits. Once the statute of limitations runs out, you lose the opportunity to recover compensation for the collision.
We should note that there are some exceptions to this two-year deadline, which is why it’s best to contact our experienced team of car crash attorneys in Charleston, WV as soon as possible.
When Should You Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
It is best to contact our attorneys immediately after a car accident. The sooner you contact Warner Law Offices, PLLC, the sooner our law firm can start investigating your case. A prompt and thorough investigation can be the difference between a nominal settlement and a life-changing financial recovery.
This investigation might include:
- Finding and interviewing any witnesses to the crash
- Looking for and photographing tire tracks
- Attempting to secure video footage of the accident
- Obtaining driver cell phone records
- Analyzing vehicle maintenance records
What to Do After a Car Accident
After a serious motor vehicle accident, you may feel disoriented, frightened, and overwhelmed. One of the best ways to regain control of your situation is to know the steps to take. At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, our Charleston car accident lawyers help clients understand what to do after a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident.
After any type of collision, it is best to:
- Get Medical Treatment: The most important, immediate step is to seek medical treatment. You may need to call 911 and have an ambulance transport you to the hospital. Some injuries do not appear right away, so you should seek treatment even if you do not feel pain.
- Call the Police: Call the police to have them document the scene and file an official report. In West Virginia, you are required by law to report any accident that results in bodily injury, death, or property damage of more than $1,000.
- Document the Scene: Get the name and contact information of the other party or parties involved in the crash. Write down their names, license plate numbers, phone numbers, and insurance information. Take the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene.
- Notify the DMV and Your Insurance Company: You are required to report accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage of more than $500 to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You should also notify your insurance company about the crash right away.
- Do NOT Make Any Recorded Statements: The other driver’s insurance company may contact you for a statement, but do not speak to them. Insurance companies do not always offer fair settlements to car accident survivors.
- Contact a Lawyer: The best way to protect your rights after a serious accident is to reach out to our experienced car accident attorneys in Charleston, WV. We can help you file your claim and seek fair compensation for your losses. Our attorneys can also help you prepare for trial, if necessary.
The car crash lawyers at Warner Law Offices, PLLC are happy to answer any questions you may have after a serious motor vehicle collision. We provide free initial consultations and only charge attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.
Get a Free Consultation With Our Charleston, WV Car Accident Attorneys
Warner Law Offices, PLLC handles all types of complex and unique motor vehicle accident cases in West Virginia. Our experienced car accident lawyers also know the intricacies of state statutes and local ordinances that may be relevant to your collision. To set up a free case evaluation from the award-winning legal team at Warner Law Offices, PLLC, contact our attorneys in Charleston, WV.
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Charleston, WV 25301
Bobby has received many accolades throughout the years from both his peers in the legal community, as well as the media. The National Trial Lawyers association named Bobby a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and he has been selected as a Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent. Additionally, he has been named a Best Attorneys of America by Rue Ratings, which also named Warner Law Offices to its Best Law Firms of America.
We represent clients across West Virginia and surrounding areas, providing compassionate client service and relentless advocacy in and out of the courtroom.
Call us 304-345-6789 or
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