Each year, an average of 450,000 accidents and approximately 4,000 fatalities are attributed to trucking accidents across the United States. In 2017, accidents involving semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles resulted in 344,000 serious and catastrophic injuries according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Although there is no doubt that the at-fault driver of any tractor-trailer or other large commercial vehicle involved in an accident is liable for your personal injuries, property damage, and other losses, claims involving commercial trucks are substantially different from passenger vehicle accidents. If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one in a commercial truck accident, you may be eligible to pursue significant compensation from all individuals and entities found liable – including the trucking company – if their negligence is found to have contributed to your injuries.

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Causes, Liability & The Law

West Virginia’s economy is heavily influenced by commodity extraction and transportation of extracted raw materials such as timber, coal, oil, shale, gas, and other materials. As a result, the roads and highways throughout large portions of rural West Virginia have become exceptionally hazardous. Steep, twisting mountain roads are overburdened with extremely large, heavily weighted commercial vehicles, engines, pumps, and other equipment that is being transported around the state on roads that were not built to handle this type of traffic.

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Whiplash victims have been unfairly targeted as the butt of jokes hinting that these victims may be exaggerating their symptoms or fraudulently pursuing money. At Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law, we are not laughing.

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General Factors and Considerations

If you were seriously injured due to the negligence or wrongful actions of someone else, you are probably wondering what the value of your personal injury claim may be. It is important to keep in mind that every individual claim will vary in value based on a wide range of variables. Nevertheless, there are some general aspects that can be considered when determining what your personal injury claim may be worth in West Virginia.

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At Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law in Morgantown, one of the questions we hear most often is, “How long do I have to file a lawsuit for my personal injury?”

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How Can Older Adults Avoid Falls?

7 Tips to Help You Remain Safe and Independent

Accidental falls are the #1 cause of injury-related death and emergency room visits for adults over age 65 – and most of these occur at home. Falls are a leading cause of broken bones and hip fractures. They are responsible for more than half of fatal head injuries and over 40% of nursing home admissions. Experiencing a fall, even without serious injury, can result in anxiety, and depression, as well as fear of remaining active – which can weaken muscles and make further falls more likely. Whether you are recovering from injuries sustained in a fall or are interested in avoiding an unplanned tumble in the first place, the following tips have been proven to help improve your chances of remaining safe – and living independently in your own home.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that each year, approximately 1.35 million lives are lost as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 20-50 million left to suffer traumatic brain injury, amputation, severe burns, permanent deformity, disability, and other injuries. For Americans, this presents a startling one in 103 chance of dying in a vehicle accident. Although many car wrecks and truck crashes on the mountainous roadways of West Virginia result from unavoidable and unforeseeable situations, a troubling percentage of traffic-related injuries and fatalities are caused by vehicle operators that fail to exercise reasonable care or otherwise act with negligence, malice, an intent to harm, or in an otherwise wrongful manner. For West Virginia drivers, three specific hazards stand out above the rest.

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7 Most Dangerous and Deadly Dog Breeds
Serious Bites and Fatalities In WV

Each year, canines kill hundreds of people across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4.5 million dog bites are reported each year, with 800,000 of these requiring medical treatment. While there is considerable debate about why a dog bites, the statistics from insurance carriers and healthcare professionals in West Virginia and throughout the United States speak for themselves.

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Every year, millions of people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained in slips, trips, and falls, with one in five of these accidents resulting in a head injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, broken bone, or other serious injury. Tragically, more than 17,000 lose their lives in these mostly preventable accidents each year – the second leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. Be aware of the seven most common hazards that can result in slip and fall injuries so you can take steps to protect yourself. Share with those you care about so they can stay safe, too.


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Is Your Insurance Company Refusing to Pay a Valid Claim?

Have you suffered a covered loss under your insurance policy that the company is refusing to pay? Unfortunately, valid insurance claims are sometimes rejected when an insurance carrier decides to place profit over people. This is not just wrong – it is illegal.

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