West Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

The son of the Chapmanville mayor died in a motorcycle accident on Route 10 in Logan County, West Virginia. Cory Price, a 21-year old firefighter, collided with an oncoming Plymouth Neon that had strayed across the center divide. Price was taken to Saint Mary's Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Neon driver Thomas Lee Dillon claimed that he lost control of the car before it crossed the center divide. The cause is not yet known, but the Logan County Sheriff's Department is investigating the accident. Meanwhile, Logan County mourns the loss of a "popular and heralded community servant" who belonged to the Logan Fire Department and the Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department, and was an EMT with the Logan County Ambulance Authority.

Many people love taking their motorcycles out on winding country roads, but this form of transportation is one of the riskiest in the country. In 2006, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists were 35 times more likely to get into a fatal crash than someone in a passenger car. The State of West Virginia requires motorcycle riders to wear safety helmets and eye protection, and use headlights during the day. Yet even if you operate your motorcycle safely according to the law, your exposure makes you vulnerable to a serious accident. Cory Price did not appear to be responsible for the fatal collision, though there is no evidence of whether he wore a helmet. Several West Virginia counties, such as Harrison, have alarmingly high fatality statistics. Those who don't die may have to live with serious spinal cord or brain injuries for the rest of their lives.

Continue reading "Son of Chapmanville, West Virginia Mayor Dies in a Motorcycle Accident" »

The Martinsburg Journal reports that a woman died last week in a motorcycle accident on Winchester Ave. in Darkesville, West Virginia. According to the West Virginia State Police, the woman was a passenger on the bike and she died when the motorcycle ran off the road and hit a utility pole. The driver of the bike fled the scene after the collision, but was discovered by authorities some time later and was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. State troopers responded to the accident after being notified, but were unable to get there before the woman lost her life. Officers continue to investigate the circumstances and cause of the accident.

The Wolfe Law Firm would like to express our condolences to the family of the victim of this terrible accident. Unfortunately, as West Virginia motorcycle accident attorneys, we know just how dangerous motorcycles can be, and fatalities are not uncommon when such wrecks occur. This accident illustrates not only the dangers of being a passenger on a bike, but also the extreme consequences that can result when a bike operator does not exercise an appropriate standard of care. Of course, the authorities have much investigating to do to determine the cause of the accident, and the driver may have run off the road avoiding a small animal or his bike may have malfunctioned in some way. In cases such as these, it is important to thoroughly inspect what happened to determine who or what was responsible for the accident.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Accident in Darkesville, West Virginia Costs Female Passenger Her Life, State Trooper Investigation Continues to Find the Accident's Cause" »

A West Virginia motorcycle safety course is helping to decrease accident rates statewide, according to a recent article on the News and Sentinel.com. On May 19, 2010, the news outlet reported that a non-profit motorcycle safety and training course called The West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program is offering free weekend classes for beginners and experienced riders from now until October.

Funded by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the program includes classes such as a Basic Rider Course and an Experienced Rider Course. Each class is taught at one of seven sites throughout the state, including a 24,200 square-foot outdoor site on the campus of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Motorcycle drivers will learn safety techniques, riding skills and defensive driving methods through a combination of outdoor drills, exercises and indoor classroom work. Courses are taught either over one day (Experienced Course) or over the course of two days (Basic Course), and always over the weekend.

Those who complete the coursework will receive completion cards. These cards can then be used at the DMV in order to waive the mandatory skills test required to obtain a motorcycle license.

The need to reduce motorcycle accidents in West Virginia is being addressed by not only the DMV, but also by the staff at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, who actually developed the curriculum for both courses. The foundation has been around for more than three decades and is committed to reducing the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities in the state every year.

Even with efforts like this, sadly, accidents still happen. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a West Virginia personal injury lawyer to help you fight for your rights.

The long, cold winter has many West Virginians dreaming of motorcycle rides through the countryside in the warmer months ahead. The Mountain State has miles and miles of breathtaking scenery that are perfectly viewed from the comfort of your motorcycle in the open air. But as you set out to ride, it's important to remember that you have to protect yourself at every turn.

To start, all riders in West Virginia must wear a helmet. Most accident-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases are results of crashes involving motorcyclists, so it's vital that you wear a helmet to ensure your safety. Also, you must have a Class E driver's license, which permits anyone 16 or over to ride a motorcycle. Finally, wear protective gear when you ride, such as gloves, knee and elbow pads, sturdy boots and long-sleeved outerwear.

Avoid Motorcycle Accidents
According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes in the U.S. involve another vehicle. In most of these cases, says the Foundation, the motorist is at fault, not the motorcyclist. This is due to several reasons. First, motorcycles are easy to unintentionally ignore because of their small size relative to the other vehicles on the road. Second, motorcycles can easily fit into a driver's blind spot, making them virtually invisible. Third, motorcycles may look farther away than they really are, especially given the fact that it's hard to gauge a motorcycle's speed.

If you're involved in an accident with your motorcycle, you have to hire a lawyer who understands your rights. Cars and trucks on the West Virginia roads often impose on the safety of motorcycle riders, but you have just as much right to be on the roads as anyone else.