Blog
West Virginia Leads Nation in Coal Mining Deaths - Again
The coal mining industry is rife with risks and potential hazards. For workers in this industry, there always exists the real risk of serious injury and, unfortunately, death. Families of workers who suffer injuries in the line of work are also forced to endure the burdens of these difficult experiences. In many cases, these injuries...
West Virginia Residents Urged to Check Their Smoke Detectors
Fall is in the air. The sky is clear, the air is crisp and the nights are getting progressively colder. We are likely only weeks away from our first morning frost and snow flurry. Many people rely upon portable ceramic or electric space heaters to provide additional warmth in the cold Fall and Winter months....
Attorney Bernie Layne Supports Victims as President of WVAJ
Since beginning his term as president of the West Virginia Association for Justice, Attorney Bernie Layne wasted no time in using his new role to back changes that benefit injured victims and communities throughout the state. A passionate advocate of victims' rights and a long-time supporter of those in need of a helping hand, Layne...
Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC - Texting & Driving & Distracted Drivers
Texting and driving claims hundreds of lives each day. Sadly, texting and driving is not limited to motor vehicles. Just last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report indicating that texting by the pilot of a medical helicopter contributed to a crash that killed four people in Missouri. (click here for the...
White Water Rafting Injuries in West Virginia
White water rafting is a lucrative business sin West Virginia, and many tourists travel to this little state to go on these exciting excursions every single year. Many white water rafting enthusiasts will visit the outposts on the New, Cheat, and Gauley rivers and enjoy the tumultuous experience of navigating one of these rafts. While...
West Virginia Moves to Ban Google Glass Before it's Released
Google Glass, which is the newest product in the works for Google, is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display that displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format. Google Glass is already facing certain legal restrictions, however, and lawmakers in West Virginia are preparing a bill that would prohibit "using a wearable computer with head...
3 Things You Need to Know About West Virginia's Dog Bite Law
The seriousness of dog bites and animal attacks is typically underestimated by the general public. Individuals who are fortunate enough to have avoided an attack or bite during their lifetimes can find it difficult to understand the totality of the dangers that can come from this type of accident. At Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC,...
Coal Miners Will Hopefully Get Protection
Hardly a day goes by when there isn't an article about coal miners or coal mining in the papers. As I read the paper this morning, I noticed two separate articles. In the first article, it is noted that Senators Rockefeller and Manchin are proposing a law that would help to protect pensions and health...
West Virginia Coal Mine Worker Involved in a Fatal Accident
Just this Monday night, a victim whose name is undisclosed, lost his life while working on a drilling rig at a West Virginia coal mine prep plant. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration the worker was killed when the rig he was working on overturned and he was crushed beneath. The death occurred...
WV Officials Seeking Federal Mine Safety Reform
Coal mining is considered to be one of the more dangerous jobs around today. Mining accidents occur frequently, and many are concerned that these incidents may be occurring far too often. According to USA Today in 2010 there were over 150 workers were trapped in a mine in China, and in West Virginia there were...