A car wreck is the last thing on your mind when you get behind the wheel. However, on average, there are eleven wrecks per minute in the United States. For a number of reasons, the seriousness of most wrecks have declined over the last ten years. Nonetheless, many West Virginians are seriously injured or killed each year because of the carelessness of other people.
At Salango Law, PLLC, we understand that a car wreck can change your life in an instant. Our Charleston car wreck lawyers will aggressively pursue your case and no cost to you until we win.
Trust Your Car Wreck Case to Salango Law
Hire an experienced lawyer who cares about you and has a track record of success.
- Salango Law has been recognized both locally and nationally for outstanding achievement.
- Salango Law has obtained over One Hundred Million Dollars on behalf of clients.
- Salango Law’s results show in the outstanding reviews left by satisfied clients.
Charleston Car Wreck Resources & FAQs
- What Damages Can I Recover?
- What if the other driver’s insurance company calls me?
- When Should I Call a Lawyer?
- What Will A Car Wreck Lawyer Do for Me?
- Time Limit for Filing a Car Wreck Claim in Charleston
- Affording a Car Wreck Lawyer in Charleston
How You Benefit From Working With a Car Wreck Attorney
Some of the first people you will deal with after a car wreck are insurance company representatives. These are people whose job is to close claims as quickly and cheaply as possible. This is what they do for a living and they know they are at an advantage over the average person who has never tried to collect on an insurance policy.
You may not be familiar with the terms of your insurance policy or the laws about establishing fault for the Wreck. You may not realize the potential damage you can make to your claim with innocent comments in response to questions from an insurance company. You may not know how to convince an insurance company of the full extent of your injuries and become frustrated that you are not being heard.
An attorney knows the law and the evidence you need to prove your claim. A Charleston personal injury attorney will handle communications with the insurance company (and others) so that your rights are completely protected. An attorney will work with your medical providers and other experts and make sure you are compensated completely for all of your injuries.
West Virginia Car Wreck Statistics
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, West Virginia tallied the following statistics for fatal motor vehicle Wrecks in 2019.
- 247 total fatality Wrecks – 14.5 per 100,000 population
- 33% involved SUVs or pickups
- 42% were multiple vehicle Wrecks
- 120 of those fatally injured had alcohol concentrations at or over the legal limit
- fatal Wrecks were almost 2x more likely to occur in rural areas
Driver Behaviors That Increase the Likelihood of a Car Wreck
Certain driver behaviors are more likely to contribute to car crashes. Speed is the number 1 contributing factor to wrecks. Speed includes going too fast for the road conditions or faster than the posted speed limit. When drivers go too fast, they have less time to react to circumstances that may produce a collision.
- Speed
- Alcohol or drugs
- Failure to yield
- Lane change/improper lane
- Reckless or careless driving
- Distraction
- Failure to obey traffic signals/signs
Serious Injuries Common in Charleston Car Wrecks
The most common injuries people get from car wrecks involve soft tissues being hit, stretched or torn from the force of the impact. Speed and the positioning of the vehicles at the time of the crash influence the severity of the injuries. In addition to the physical injuries that occur, there may be psychological injuries that develop from the trauma.
Neck injuries – The force of impact can cause strain to the muscles and ligaments in the neck resulting in soreness and temporary limitation of mobility.
Back injuries – Injuries to the back may occur if the crash impact causes the spinal vertebrae to shift causing the discs between the vertebrae to bulge or rupture compressing the nerves resulting in pain and loss of sensation.
Internal injuries – When your body is hit or hits something else during a crash, damage may occur to internal organs that cannot be seen and may not be immediately recognized. Internal injuries can be very serious and can result in death if not treated.
Broken bones – Breaks usually occur to arms, legs, and ribs – possibly pelvis or spinal vertebrae.
Spinal cord injuries – Any time the back is injured, there is a possibility that the damage is severe enough to affect the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is injured, other body parts beneath the injury site may experience loss of use or sensation.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Traumatic brain injuries can occur when the force of the crash impact causes the head to hit something or be thrust with such force that the brain hits the inside of the skull. Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe. Severe TBIs usually result in permanent disability.
Mental and emotional injuries – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological injury from a car Wreck.
How to Get Compensation for Your Wreck Injuries
The ability to collect compensation for your losses usually starts with an insurance company. You may receive some benefits from your own policy but the majority of the payment will come from the insurance company of the person responsible for the Wreck. This other insurance company is not happy about paying you – even though you may have every right to collect. So, you must be strategic in how you present your claim and the best way to do that is to hire a good personal injury attorney.
Time Limit for Filing a Car Wreck Claim in Charleston
Car Wreck victims in Charleston, West Virginia, need to begin their claim as promptly as possible. First, insurance carriers involved in these cases have very strict reporting deadlines, typically within a day or two after the crash occurs. If you do not file a claim with the insurance carrier promptly, they will likely delay or even deny the claim.
Additionally, the West Virginia personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date an injury occurs. Failing to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver within this two-year timeframe will likely result in the crash victim becoming unable to recover any compensation for their losses.
Affording a Car Wreck Lawyer in Charleston
You have likely thought about how you could possibly afford an attorney after a vehicle Wreck in Charleston, West Virginia. At Salango Law, PLLC, we take pride in handling Charleston car Wreck cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will never have to worry about paying a single dime and legal fees until after we successfully recover the compensation they are entitled to. We want to make sure that you are able to hold at-fault drivers accountable for their actions.
Contact Our Charleston Car Wreck Lawyers Today
The attorneys at Salango Law, PLLC are the advocates you want on your side. Our Charleston car Wreck lawyers are some of the most recognized personal injury attorneys in West Virginia. We have helped hundreds of clients recover exceptionally large settlements. We can help you too. Contact us for a free consultation or call us at (304) 342-0512.
Our Charleston office is located at 206 Capitol St #300, Charleston, WV 25301. Click here for driving directions.