Blog
Charleston Attorney Jonathan Mani Named WVAJ President
CHARLESTON, WV (June 24, 2020) – Jonathan Mani has been named president of the West Virginia Association for Justice. He is a partner with the Charleston firm of Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC. His primary practice areas are nursing home neglect and abuse, medical malpractice and catastrophic injury. “It is an honor to serve as...
State to soon allow nursing home visits
It's been months since residents of West Virginia have been able to visit their loved ones in nursing homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon, Governor Jim Justice will phase in nursing home visits across the state, according to WOWK. As of Wednesday, June 17, 2020, residents of West Virginia will be allowed to visit...
Has COVID-19 made West Virginia roads and highways more lethal?
As a result of statewide social distancing guidelines, West Virginia's roads have become noticeably desolate. Only those who still worked in essential jobs or needed to get groceries traveled. In turn, the number of overall crashes may have dropped. The severity of crashes in West Virginia has gone up, however. According to the National Safety...
What can truck drivers and trucking companies do to prevent crashes?
Truck drivers and trucking companies are responsible promoting safety on West Virginia roads. Unfortunately, many of them cut corners to save time and money or engage in outright negligent behavior. Since large commercial trucks can weigh anywhere between 20-30 times the average passenger car, they can cause a devastating amount of damage in a crash....
How serious are jackknife truck accidents?
A jackknife truck accident occurs when a large commercial truck swerves or careens out of control and the trailer swings out, much like a folding jackknife. This type of truck crash usually occurs when a truck driver attempts a dangerous maneuver while traveling at a high speed. When a semi-trailer swings out, it can block...
Mani Ellis & Layne announces community-based fund to help service workers in need
CHARLESTON, WV (March 31, 2020) – Charleston law firm Mani Ellis & Lanye, PLLC is proud to announce it is sponsoring an initiative to help local service workers whose finances have been impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Better Together WV has been organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit involving multiple businesses and retailers to assist...
West Virginia ranks as 8th worst state for distracted driving in a recent study
Personal finance website MoneyGeek recently ranked the top 25 worst states in the U.S. for distracted driving fatalities per billion miles traveled. Each state was ranked using crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). West Virginia ranked the eighth-worst state in the nation for distracted driving. Our state had approximately 54 deaths...
Feds plan to study large truck accidents
Truck crashes can lead to devastating injuries and loss of life due to the massive size of the vehicles involved. More than 15 years ago, a large-scale study found the vast majority of crashes were associated with a driver’s action or inaction. Technology has evolved at a rapid pace since that study by the Federal...
Say NO to Intermediate Court of Appeals in West Virginia
State lawmakers have introduced a bill (Senate Bill 275) to create an Intermediate Court of Appeals (also known as the Intermediate Appellate Court). The bill passed the Senate on February 10 and is now with the House. The Intermediate Court of Appeals has the power to review and overturn judgments made in a trial court....
Unexpected snowstorm causes several West Virginia truck accidents this week
When winter weather strikes, it can be catastrophic on congested West Virginia roads shared by both cars and large trucks. Adding to the risk, the Mountain State's frequent curves and steep hills can cause drivers to lose control — especially those who operate big rigs. The most common cause of winter crashes is driving too fast...