West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney

Required Education for Personal Injury Lawyers

All attorneys, including West Virginia personal injury attorneys, must pursue the same general path of training and education. They must earn their law degrees and pass written bar examinations in the states they plan to practice in, but this can't be accomplished until they've earned an undergraduate degree and passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a reasonably high score.

Lawyers can additionally become certified as specialists in civil trial advocacy by completing a specialty certification program accredited by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. This is a non-profit organization accredited by the American Bar Association to provide board certification for attorneys.

Many state bar associations also require that personal injury lawyers pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The MPRE focuses on professional behavior. Your state might also require that they take continuing education courses.

Personal and Professional Skills

The most successful personal injury attorneys excel at oral advocacy, negotiation, and client development. They should also have a capacity for handling stress and pressure.

Attorneys in this specialty usually represent clients on a contingency basis. Their fees represent a percentage of the plaintiff's eventual compensation when the case is resolved, typically from 30 to 40 percent. This arrangement means that the plaintiff doesn't pay a fee unless and until the lawyer recovers money on her behalf. Personal injury lawyers are typically only compensated if they win.

That's pressure, particularly when you consider that some personal injury cases can drag out for years before they're resolved. This makes efficient time management skills critical to an effective personal injury lawyer.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Some of the most common types of cases handled by this type of lawyer include:

• Animal bite injuries
• Auto accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Brain injuries
• Burn injuries
• Construction accidents
• Defective products
• Insurance/bad faith claims
• Medical malpractice
• Motorcycle accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Spinal cord injuries
• Wrongful death

AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYERS

This area of law covers motor vehicle incidents. If you or a loved one has been in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, contacting an accident attorney quickly can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. KPD Law has extensive experience in the area of car, truck and motorcycle negligence law. Our results speak for themselves. If you’ve been in an auto accident in West Virginia.

After an accident, there are steps you should take to protect your health and your rights. At KPD Law, we relentlessly fight for the rights of our clients who have suffered injury, pain, and suffering due to vehicle negligence of another party. Here is what you can do:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Care
   Make sure to see to your own injuries and those of your passengers. Keep in mind that the severity of injuries is not always immediately known, and what may appear to be minor can eventually become more serious. Seek emergency or medical care immediately following the accident. A delay may affect your physical health and also be detrimental to your claim.
2. Gather Thorough Information
   You must contact the police and have an accident report created to document the facts of the accident as soon as possible. The more information you gather, the better for your case. Your police report should include all relevant information, including (but not limited to) the names, phone numbers and insurance companies of all parties involved in the accident as well as any witnesses to the accident. Be sure to obtain a copy of all your medical records and document any days lost from work.
3. Don’t Discuss the Accident
   Avoid having discussions with anyone other than the reporting police officer about the incident – Do NOT admit fault. If you have to deal with the insurance company, say as little as possible. You should never agree to sign any paperwork without obtaining an attorney to advise you. Never agree to provide a recorded statement. Avoid speaking about your case to the media or on social media websites. Information posted online or via-email is not confidential.
4. Take Pictures and/or Video
   If you are able, it is extremely important to record your injuries and any property damage to the vehicles at the accident scene. If unable to take any photographs or video, simply draw the positions of the cars involved to the best of your ability.



TRUCKING ACCIDENTS LAWYERS

A trucking accident is a vehicular collision where at least one of the persons involved is driving a truck, tractor trailer, 18-wheeler, semi, or other commercial vehicle.

West Virginia drivers are accustomed to sharing the road with commercial trucks, but accidents can and do happen; and the results can be devastating. Driver negligence, including, speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving are compounded when the driver is operating a large truck or semi. In addition, the fatigue that comes with long truck routes can increase the risk of an accident.

Though truck driver negligence is a common cause, there are many other factors that may lead to a truck accident, including:

• Equipment Failure - Improperly maintained vehicles are an accident waiting to happen. Though states require regular inspections and maintenance for trucking companies, guidelines are often ignored. Faulty equipment like defective tires, or worn out brakes can lead to accidents.
• Weather Conditions - Due to their weight and size, commercial trucks can’t stop as quickly as smaller vehicles. It’s also more difficult, if not impossible, for them to drive around road hazards that occur unexpectedly. Wet roads, snow and ice can make it that much harder for a large truck to stop.
• Improper Loading - If a truck’s cargo isn’t loaded properly the chance for an accident to occur becomes that much greater. Loads that are unbalanced or improperly secured can cause a vehicle to tip, or a driver to lose their load in transit, putting themselves and other drivers at serious risk.

If you or someone you love is involved in a truck accident, you need a truck accident attorney in West Virginia with the experience and the resources to fight for you. Trucking companies and insurance companies are very aggressive when it comes to these types of cases. Kevin P. Davis and the team of KPD Law have handled numerous trucking cases. The right accident lawyer can make all the difference in getting through a difficult situation.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

A motorcycle accident is a vehicular collision where at least one of the persons involved is riding on or driving a motorcycle.

Anyone with a motorcycle has heard “be careful out there. It’s not your driving that’s the problem, it’s the other guys.” Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are in terms of motorcycle safety, you can’t eliminate the errors of others – especially with the increase in distracted driving.

Motorcycle accidents are especially dangerous because riders have almost zero protection in the case of a crash. A victim is likely to suffer major trauma or serious injury, which can lead to financial hardship and mental stress. That’s why it’s important to remember, when a collision is caused by the negligence of another, you have a right to pursue litigation. If you’ve been injured, call a motorcycle accident attorney in West Virginia that isn’t afraid to fight the insurance companies.

KPD Law will go the distance with insurance companies to ensure optimal recovery of funds.

KPD Law Offices can represent you as your motorcycle accident attorney to make sure that your rights are looked after ever step of the process.

You have a right to the road – and KPD Law never gives up. Contact Us today.

BOAT ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

A boating accident (boating negligence) is a collision where at least one of the persons involved is riding or driving a boat, jet ski, wave runner or other watercraft.

Water sports are enjoyed by people of all ages in West Virginia. Unfortunately, taking in the beauty and having fun can sometimes cause us to forget that the rules of the “road” still apply. Those operating a boat, jet ski, wave runner, or other watercraft are expected to navigate waters carefully and responsibly. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case.

Even on the water, people are prone to the same behaviors that endanger motorists on the road, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, or behaving recklessly. Should a boat operator act in a negligent or reckless manner and cause injury to another, he or she may be held liable for the harm that is sustained by the victim.

Boat or other watercraft accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, including death and drowning. If you or someone you love is the victim of a boating accident, you need an experienced boating accident attorney in West Virginia fighting on your behalf. Count on the extensive trial experience and unwavering dedication of KPD Law.