Hurt in a Car Accident in Ohio County? Start With a Free Case Review

Big Bubba Injury Law serves people seriously hurt in car accidents across West Virginia, including residents of Ohio County. The firm represents people seriously hurt in car and truck crashes, and families in wrongful death cases. We serve Wheeling, Ohio County and the rest of West Virginia. A free case review is confidential and carries no obligation to continue. It is a good way to learn your options before you decide anything.

What a Car Accident Lawyer Does for Ohio County Crash Victims

A car accident lawyer works for the injured person against the drivers and insurers responsible for the crash.

Our work usually includes:

• Investigating how the crash happened
• Identifying the insurance coverage that may apply
• Communicating with adjusters, so you don’t have to handle those calls alone
• Handling the claim, or filing a lawsuit when a claim cannot be resolved without one

This work is for drivers, passengers and family members after a crash that caused serious injury or death. Our practice centers on the injury areas described on this page.

A crash can leave you with medical treatment, lost pay and questions you didn’t expect. Many people try to sort those issues out while they are still in pain. A lawyer can take over the claim work so you can focus on recovery. Wheeling and Ohio County drivers use busy city streets, state highways and rural roads, and each setting raises its own questions about how a crash happened.

Crashes and Injuries the Firm Handles

The firm handles car accidents, commercial truck crashes, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims.

• Car accidents on city streets, highways and rural roads in Ohio County.
• Truck and commercial vehicle crashes. These cases often involve more than one party and more than one insurer. Federal rules can apply. 49 CFR § 395.3 sets driving limits for property-carrying drivers, including 11 hours of driving and a 14-hour window.
• Catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. A car crash can cause a spinal cord injury. After a blow to the head, tell your doctor about any new symptoms, even ones that seem minor.
• Wrongful death cases involve families who have lost a loved one in a fatal crash.

What the Free Case Review Covers

A free case review is a confidential conversation about your crash. It carries no obligation to continue with the firm.

To make the most of it, bring:

• A short account of the crash, including the date, time and place
• The police report number, if you have it
• Insurance information for you and the other driver
• Photos, medical records and names of treating providers
• Any letters you received from insurers

During the review, the firm looks at:

• How the crash happened and who may be responsible
• Which parties and insurers may be involved
• Your injuries and treatment so far
• Time limits that may apply

You leave with a clearer picture of your options and next steps, based on the facts you share. Every case turns on its own facts and evidence, and no result can be promised.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process starts when you contact the firm. It then moves through review, investigation, insurer contact and, if needed, negotiation or a lawsuit.

1. Contact the firm. Describe what happened, in your own words.
2. Free case review. We go over the facts, your injuries and your questions.
3. Investigation. We gather the police report, medical records, photos and witness information.
4. Insurer contact. We speak with adjusters and other parties for you.
5. Negotiation or lawsuit. If needed, we can file a lawsuit. We explain each stage as it happens.

The steps often overlap, and some happen at the same time. How long each stage takes depends on your injuries, the records and how the other side responds. Most people want to know what comes next, so we explain each step in plain words.

Steps That Protect Your Claim Early

The most useful early steps are getting medical care, keeping records and thinking carefully before you give any statement.

• Get medical care and keep every record, including follow-up visits for symptoms that show up later.
• Be careful with recorded statements. West Virginia law limits settlement talks, requests for a partial or general release of liability, and requests for statements for use in negotiating a settlement or obtaining a release in the first 20 days after an injury, for an injured person who is an inpatient or is partially or totally unable to engage in his or her usual trade, profession or occupation. The statute makes exceptions. A person acting or intending to act for and on behalf of the injured person may obtain a statement upon the injured person’s express request. The law also lets a person who may be liable make an advance payment of all or part of that liability during the 20 days, and any such payment is allowed as full credit against any damages finally determined to be due. W. Va. Code § 55-7-11a also allows an injured person to disavow a settlement, release or statement obtained in violation of that section at any time within one hundred eighty days from the date of the personal injury by executing a written statement of disavowal and forwarding a copy to the person violating this section. If any consideration paid for the settlement or release is repaid or returned to the person who paid it when the copy is forwarded, the settlement, release or statement may not be admissible in evidence for any purpose in any court or other proceeding relating to the personal injury.
• Keep a log. Write down symptoms, missed work and daily tasks you can’t do.
• Know the deadlines. West Virginia generally gives two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. W. Va. Code § 55-2-12 sets that general rule. A wrongful death action must be commenced within two years after the death, subject to the provisions of section eighteen, article two, chapter fifty-five, under W. Va. Code § 55-7-6. W. Va. Code § 55-7-6 reads: “The provisions of this section shall not apply to actions brought for the death of any person occurring prior to July 1, 1988.” W. Va. Code § 55-7-6(d) reads: “Every such action shall be commenced within two years after the death of such deceased person, subject to the provisions of section eighteen, article two, chapter fifty-five.” W. Va. Code § 55-7-6 reads: “The provisions of this section shall not apply to actions brought for the death of any person occurring prior to July 1, 1988.”
• Know about medical liens.

Common Questions About Car Crash Claims in Wheeling

Here are direct answers to common questions about crash claims in Wheeling.

Serving Wheeling and Ohio County Crash Victims

The firm serves Wheeling, Ohio County and the rest of West Virginia. We focus on people with serious crash injuries and on families after a fatal crash. Our support staff helps with records and scheduling, and we explain each step in plain words. The firm is ready to talk through what you know so far.

If a crash on a Wheeling-area road left you, a family member or someone you love with serious injuries, the firm handles car, truck and commercial vehicle cases across West Virginia.