Car Accident Lawyers Serving Wheeling and 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.

Yes, under West Virginia law, a vehicle accident must be reported when it results in an injury, death, or property damage that appears to be $1,000 or more. Drivers involved in these crashes should contact law enforcement so the accident can be properly investigated and documented. A police crash report can provide important information for insurance claims and any legal matters that may arise after the collision.