Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases in Charleston, WV
We help the injured get justice
An accident can happen anywhere at any time in Charleston, West Virginia. When someone acts recklessly or negligently, people can get hurt. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may not be sure what to do next. How much compensation can you recover? Do you even have a case? An experienced Charleston personal injury lawyer can help you get answers.
At Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, we understand the impact an injury can have on your life. We know the laws in West Virginia and have years of experience handling personal injury claims. Our lawyers put in hard work to build strong cases that are built on facts, and we fight for the compensation that our clients deserve.
Our firms handles cases involving many different types of personal injury accidents, including boating accidents, coal mining accidents and dog bites.
Here are some questions we get asked about personal injury cases:
It’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible after your accident. The statute of limitations for taking legal action in West Virginia is two years from the date of your incident. But the sooner we can get started on your case, the better. Evidence gets lost or destroyed as time goes by, and witnesses forget important details.
Learn more about how we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at our Charleston office. Or we can meet at location that is convenient for you.
What makes personal injury cases complicated in Charleston?
The negligent party in your accident may have clearly been in the wrong. But that doesn’t mean they are going to admit it. In fact, negligent parties often deny responsibility. They may even blame you for what happened. That makes the process of recovering compensation more complicated, because then you have to prove that the party was negligent, and that their negligence led to your injury.
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Will the insurance company cover my claim?
Possibly. The insurance company may completely deny your claim for compensation and refuse to pay you anything. If they do consider your claim, they will try to find ways to pay you as little as possible. For example, they may question the extent of your injuries. They may argue your injuries were pre-existing and seek access to your medical history. Or they’ll offer you a settlement – one that falls far short of covering the damages you suffered. They have many tactics designed to limit your compensation.
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Do I need a lawyer?
There is no rule or law that requires you to have legal representation when seeking financial compensation from the insurance company. In fact, the insurance company would rather you did not have a lawyer. But they have lawyers. Having your own attorney puts an experienced advocate on your side. A lawyer will know how to fight back against insurance company attempts to pay you less and will have a better idea of how much your claim is worth.
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How can a Charleston personal injury lawyer help me?
A lawyer will have the resources to investigate your claim to get the facts. A legal team can gather evidence, take photos of the accident scene, interview witnesses and carefully review medical records and any police reports. A lawyer can also consult experts as needed to provide additional support for your claim. In addition, an attorney can deal with the insurance company directly so you can focus on getting better.
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Can I afford a lawyer?
At our firm, the answer is yes. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means we pay all of the costs to move your case forward through the legal system. There are no upfront fees or other charges that you need to pay. In fact, you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid.
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Why should I consider your firm?
Our lawyers are from West Virginia and have chosen to live and work here. Our clients are neighbors and fellow residents, and we determined to do our best for them. Our three primary attorneys have earned an AV Preeminent® rating in personal injury law from Martindale-Hubbell®. That’s the highest possible rating from fellow attorneys. We have a record of getting results, which earned us membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the elite Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. We are determined to help you get the best possible outcome in your case.
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