Car Accidents in the Ohio Valley

Not every car accident requires a lawyer. If no one was injured, fault is clear, and the insurance company pays the full cost of a minor claim, you may be able to handle it yourself.

However, it may be worth talking with a car accident lawyer if you were injured, your medical treatment is ongoing, fault is disputed, multiple people or vehicles were involved, the other driver was uninsured or underinsured, or an insurance company is denying, delaying, or undervaluing your claim. You should also consider getting legal advice before accepting a settlement if you are unsure whether it accounts for your medical expenses, lost income, future treatment, and other losses.

A consultation with an experienced car accident attorney can help you understand your options and determine whether you need legal representation.

West Virginia uses a modified comparative fault system, so your share of responsibility for an accident can affect whether and how much you can recover.

For people injured in Wheeling or elsewhere in the Ohio Valley, an attorney familiar with West Virginia and Ohio law can identify which laws, insurance policies, and deadlines apply. A lawyer can investigate what happened, help to preserve evidence, identify all available insurance coverage and responsible parties, document your losses, communicate with the insurance companies, negotiate a settlement, and file a lawsuit when necessary.

Being partially at fault for a car accident in West Virginia does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation.

West Virginia follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you are 50% or less at fault for the accident, you may still recover compensation, but the amount you receive will generally be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% responsible for a crash and your damages were $100,000, your recovery could be reduced by 20%.

Fault is not always straightforward. A West Virginia car accident lawyer can investigate the crash, gather and preserve evidence, and challenge allegations of fault when appropriate.

You may still have options. In West Virginia, auto insurance policies are required to include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which can help compensate you when an at-fault driver has no liability insurance.

West Virginia requires at least $25,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident when two or more people are injured, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Insurers must also offer higher uninsured motorist limits and the option to purchase underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. UIM coverage may apply when the at-fault driver has insurance, but the available limits are less than the UIM limits you purchased.

West Virginia law may also treat a vehicle as uninsured in certain situations when the insurance company denies coverage or when the owner or driver cannot be identified, such as some hit-and-run accidents. Special requirements can apply to claims involving an unknown driver, so it’s important to report the accident promptly.

Gather every potentially relevant insurance policy and declarations page and have them reviewed carefully. An uninsured driver does not necessarily mean you have no way to recover compensation.

The first step is usually a phone call to one of our Ohio Valley-based representatives, or a contact-form submission describing what happened and how to reach you. Start with what you know. The team may ask when and where the incident occurred, who was involved, what injuries or other harm resulted, what medical care you received, and whether insurance companies or other attorneys are involved.

Depending on the matter, the firm may schedule a free consultation, ask for additional information, refer you to another attorney, or explain that the firm cannot take the case.

The consultation carries no obligation to hire the firm. Contacting Bordas & Bordas alone does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after you and the firm enter into a written agreement.

Many people in the Ohio Valley live in one state, work in another, and drive through a third. When a crash happens near a state line, the state where the accident occurred usually determines which traffic laws, fault rules, and filing deadlines apply. Where a lawsuit may be filed can also depend on where the other driver lives and where the crash took place.

West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania all use a form of comparative fault, which means you may still recover compensation if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of fault is not greater than that of the other parties. Each state generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident, but exceptions can apply. Pennsylvania drivers should also be aware that their choice of “limited tort” or “full tort” coverage can affect their right to recover for pain and suffering.

Insurance can add another layer. The policies involved may have been issued in different states, each with its own coverage requirements. With offices in Wheeling, Moundsville, and St. Clairsville, and a Pittsburgh office, Bordas & Bordas handles car accident claims in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and can help determine which state’s laws apply to your case.