Charleston Personal Injury Law Blog

Driving behaviors that inherently increase the chances of a crash

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

As you travel along West Virginia roads, you might not be fully aware of how the actions and decisions of other drivers nearby could affect your life. While you may consider yourself a safe driver and take every necessary measure to keep danger at bay, you cannot force others to do the same.

Unfortunately, when it comes to driving, negligent behavior can come in a variety of forms and fashions, each of which could place your well-being in harm's way. While understanding the hazards you might encounter out on the open road can be beneficial, a collision could still take place at any given moment.

4 factors that often make rural roads dangerous

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Like most of your friends and family members, you probably drive every day. After all, while the state has a variety of advantages, West Virginia does not offer much in the way of public transportation. If you regularly drive on rural roads, you may have an increased chance of sustaining a serious injury in an automobile accident.

West Virginia has a higher rate of fatal car accidents than virtually all its neighboring states. Certainly, on average, more deadly automobile collisions happen in the state than in the nation as a whole. Part of the reason the state has such alarming car-fatality statistics is its numerous rural roads. Here are four factors that often make these roadways dangerous:

Red-light traffic fatalities reach a 10-year high

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Monday, September 30, 2019.

Ever notice how that when find yourself stuck at a traffic light, other motorists often appear to be using their cellphones? While West Virginia has laws in place intended to prevent motorists from using handheld phones while driving, many drivers ignore them. This is one of several reasons why red-light traffic deaths are spiking considerably across the nation.

According to the Pocono Record, red-light traffic fatalities nationwide have reached a 10-year high, with an average of two people losing their lives every day in the United States because other drivers run red lights.

How a seatbelt may affect your car accident claim

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

Wearing your seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle is an effective way to reach your destination safely. After all, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelts saved nearly 15,000 lives in 2017 alone.

If you have an automobile collision, your seatbelt may save your life. Still, you may have injuries and property damage that you should not have to cover. If you want to pursue compensation from whoever caused the accident, you should realize how not wearing a seatbelt may affect your claim.

What distracts drivers?

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Wednesday, July 31, 2019.

Distracted drivers are dangerous. If a motorist is not paying attention to the roads, you may become a car accident victim. Approximately 1,000 injuries and nine deaths occur every day because of collisions involving distracted drivers.

Why is inattentive driving so common? Here are some of the most common and dangerous distractions that can result in auto crashes.

An overloaded truck is more common than you may think

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Monday, July 1, 2019.

As drivers in West Virginia, we see many huge trucks: coal trucks, logging trucks and 18-wheelers.

However, it is unwise to become too complacent around them. Some trucks carry too large a load, which is a leading cause of truck-related crashes.

2 common types of rear-end accident injuries

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Monday, June 3, 2019.

Out of the many types of car accidents that occur on the roads of Charleston, rear-end collisions are the most common. Often, accident victims walk away with few to mild injuries and property damage. However, some people are not so fortunate and end up with serious injuries and trauma. The sudden and jarring impact of rear-end motor vehicle accidents can prove serious and catastrophic for some individuals, causing them to end up with severe physical and emotional trauma. Many accident victims lose their lives.

The head, neck and back are especially vulnerable in rear-end collisions. Even the slightest amount of trauma to these areas can result in spinal dislocation, traumatic brain damage, herniated discs and other injuries that can take months and years for complete recovery to occur. Some people who sustain severe rear-end collision injuries never make a complete recovery and must deal with the long-term and sometimes permanent consequences of the other party’s negligence or fault. Below is a brief overview of some common injuries that occur in rear-end auto accidents.

Who is to blame for logging truck collisions?

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Monday, May 6, 2019.

Logging trucks are a common sight on West Virginia highways. Most of the time, these vehicles are in good repair and their drivers are alert and competent. However, there are many factors that could increase the risk of deadly accidents.

Some of these risks are beyond anybody's control. Weather, for example, could diminish highway safety. However, the unfortunate fact is that human negligence is often a factor serious motor vehicle accidents. Here are some of the specific ways in which certain parties could be liable for logging truck accidents on West Virginia's high-traffic river-valley roadways.

Comparative fault and your personal injury claim

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

Auto accidents occur on a daily basis. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from an auto accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation for your suffering.

Thankfully, a personal injury claim for your auto accident can aid in obtaining such payment. One critical aspect of a personal injury claim is the comparative fault law.

How common is substance abuse among truckers?

On behalf of Romano & Associates, PLLC on Monday, March 4, 2019.

As someone who lives and works in West Virginia, you have probably grown accustomed to sharing the state’s roadways with coal trucks, logging trucks and other commercial vehicles, but that does not make doing so any less anxiety-inducing. When cars and commercial vehicles collide, cars are often on the losing end of the equation, and such collisions become exponentially more likely when the professionals driving those commercial vehicles are drunk or high.

Sadly, the American Addiction Centers report that truck driver substance abuse is alarmingly common across the trucking industry, and that this has held true for decades, despite the fact that the dangers associated with drunk and drugged driving are well-documented. Just how prevalent is the use of alcohol and drugs in commercial trucking?