West Virginia Personal Injury Guide
WV personal injury case & accident info
West Virginia might be small and rural, but that has not stopped pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies from setting up shop. And pharmacies there have been ordering far more supplies than what they conceivably need – one pharmacy in Kermit, West Virginia, a town with just 392 residents, received 9 million opioid pills in just two years. Pharma companies McKesson, Cardinal and AmerisourceBergen have made $17 billion between 2007 and 2012 after shipping 423 million opioids to the state. Those companies distribute 85% of the nation's drugs, and West Virginia has the highest rate of overdoses in the country. Lawyers are finally bringing Big Pharma to task for what they have done, starting class action lawsuits and untangling the threads of the opioid crisis. Whatever help you need, if you have been hurt and require assistance for your personal injury case, Enjuris can offer guidance.
West Virginia personal injury law: the basics
West Virginia statutes online
This is where you’ll find the West Virginia Code. The website has details about how long you have to bring a case, monetary limits on personal injury cases (which are also known as damage caps), and other important information.
To read:West Virginia's car accident statutes of limitation
In West Virginia, you have two years to bring both a personal injury and a property damage claim. That means you have two years to file your paperwork with the court, not that your case has to be completed in that time frame.
To read:Accident worksheets
Your First Meeting with an Attorney
A worksheet to prepare for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney – what to bring, what they'll ask
Download in PDF format
Documents & Evidence Checklist
Checklist of 30 items to help you prepare for making a personal injury or accident claim
Download in PDF format
Personal Injury Attorney Interview Sheet
Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case
Download in PDF format
Damages/Expenses Worksheet
Damages worksheet to track expenses for your injury claim (medical treatment, property damage, lost wages, prescriptions)
Download in PDF format
Post-Accident Journal Form
Sample accident journal/diary to help you document the effect on your daily life
Download in PDF format
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
Hiring a lawyer in West Virginia
The first meeting with a personal injury attorney is normally free. (Note that other legal specialties, such as family law or domestic relations law, are different.) After that, lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that they will receive a third of the eventual reward, plus whatever office expenses they incur along the way.
If your case proceeds to trial, that percentage could rise to 40% of the eventual reward or judgment. These numbers aren't determined by law, so don't be surprised if your lawyer suggests something else.
Want to hire a lawyer and need some help?
Check out some of our best articles:
Personal injury law basics
What is personal injury? Common questions answered. Accident & personal injury case/claim basics: read about money, insurance, liability, negligence, timing, lawsuit, settlements. Read more
Connect to top-rated injury lawyers using Enjuris' comprehensive national directory.
Help me find the best West Virginia attorney near me
Law libraries in West Virginia
There are many issues you can solve without the help of an attorney. If you don't know where to start, a law librarian can help you. They are usually legally trained, and they can help you both with texts or online research engines like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- West Virginia University College of Law George R. Farmer, Jr. Law Library
- West Virginia State Law Library