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Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, orJan Dils and Jim Leach Attorneys At Law, PLLC
A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in West Virginia to evaluate your claim.
West Virginia follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 50% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 50% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury is 49% or less, with the resulting damage award reduced by the injured party’s amount of fault. If the injured party’s fault level reaches 50%, he or she cannot recover any damages resulting from the accident. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 50% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
West Virginia Statutes of Limitations
In West Virginia, the courts follow a modified joint and several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. Generally, courts apply a pure several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. The amount for which each defendant is financially liable is proportionate to his or her share of the fault. In other words, a defendant that caused the majority of the damages will be responsible for a majority of the financial judgment. However, in cases of medical malpractice, joint and several liability applies. Several specific provisions apply and it is recommended that the statute be referenced directly.
Click here for more on Joint and Several Liability
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in West Virginia is to contact courts in WV and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in West Virginia to get you started:
Supreme Court
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Capitol Complex
Building 1, Room E-318
Charleston, WV 25305
304-558-2601
Circuit Courts
Barbour County
Barbour County Courthouse
8 N. Main Street
Philippi, WV 26416
304-457-3454
Berkeley County
110 W. King Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
304-264-1918
Boone County
Boone County Courthouse
200 State Street
Madison, WV 25130
304-369-7321
Braxton County
Braxton County Courthouse
300 Main Street
Sutton, WV 26601
304-765- 2837
Brooke County
Brooke County Courthouse
632 Main Street
Wellsburg, WV 26070
304-737-3662
Cabell County
Cabell County Courthouse
750 Fifth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
304- 526- 8622
Calhoun County
Calhoun County Courthouse
Court & Main Streets
Grantsville, WV 26147
304- 354-6910
Clay County
210 Main Street
Clay, WV 25043
304-587-4256
Doddridge County
Doddridge County Courthouse
118 E. Court Street
West Union, WV 26456
304-873-2331
Fayette County
Fayette County Courthouse
100 Court Street
Fayetteville, WV 25840
304-574- 4249
Gilmer County
Gilmer County Courthouse
10 Howard Street
Glenville, WV 26351
304- 462- 7241
Grant County
Grant County Courthouse
5 Highland Avenue
Petersburg, WV 26847
304-257-4545
Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County Courthouse
200 N. Court Street
Lewisburg, WV 24901
304-647-6626
Hampshire County
Hampshire County Circuit Court
E. Main Street
Romney, WV 26757
304- 822- 5022
Hancock County
Hancock County Courthouse
102 Court Street
New Cumberland, WV 26047
304-564-3311
Hardy County
Hardy County Circuit Court
204 Washington Street
Moorefield, WV 26836
304-538-7869
Harrison County
Harrison County Courthouse
301 W. Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301-2967
304- 624- 8640
Jackson County
Jackson County Courthouse
Main Street
Ripley, WV 25271
304-372-2011
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse
George & Washington Streets
Charles Town, WV 25414
304- 728-3231
Kanawha County
Kanawha County Courthouse
111 Court Street
P.O. Box 2351
Charleston, WV 25328
304-357- 0440
Lewis County
Lewis County Courthouse
110 Center Avenue
Weston, WV 26452
304-269-8210
Lincoln County
Lincoln County Courthouse
8000 Court Avenue
Hamlin, WV 25523
304- 824- 7887 ext. 239
Logan County
Logan County Courthouse
300 Stratton Street
Logan, WV 25601
304-792-8550
Marion County
Marion County Courthouse
211 Adams Street
Fairmont, WV 26554
304-367-5360
Marshall County
Marshall County Courthouse
Seventh Street
Moundsville, WV 26041
304-845-2130
Mason County
Mason County Courthouse
Sixth & Viand Street
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
304-675-4400
McDowell County
McDowell County Courthouse
Court & Wyoming Streets
Welch, WV 24801
304-436-8535
Mercer County
Mercer County Courthouse
1501 W. Main Street
Princeton, WV 24740
304-487-8323
Mineral County
Mineral County Courthouse
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
304- 788- 1562
Mingo County
Mingo County Courthouse
75 E. Second Avenue
Williamson, WV 25661
304-235-0320
Monongalia County
Monongalia County Courthouse
243 High Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
304-291-7240
Monroe County
Monroe County Courthouse
P.O. Box 648
Union, WV 24983
304-772-3017
Morgan County
Morgan County Courthouse
202 Fairfax Street
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
304-258-8554
Nicholas County
Nicholas County Courthouse
700 Main Street
Summersville, WV 266
304- 872-7810
Ohio County
Ohio County Courthouse
1500 Chapline Street
City/County Building
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-234-3656
Pendleton County
Pendleton County Circuit Court
Main Street
Franklin, WV 26807
304-358-7067
Pleasants County
Pleasants County Courthouse
301 Court Lane
St. Marys, WV 26170
304-684-3513
Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County Courthouse
900 Tenth Avenue
Marlinton, WV 24954
304-799- 4604
Preston County
Preston County Courthouse
101 W. Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
304-329-0047
Putnam County
Putnam County Judicial Building
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
304- 586- 0203
Raleigh County
Raleigh County Courthouse
215 Main Street
Beckley, WV 25801
304-255-9135
Randolph County
Randolph County Courthouse
2 Randolph Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241
304- 636- 2765
Ritchie County
Ritchie County Courthouse
115 E. Main Street
Harrisville, WV 26362
304-643-2164 ext.229
Roane County
Roane County Courthouse
200 Main Street
Spencer, WV 25276
304-927-2750
Summers County
Summers County Courthouse
P. O. Box 1058
Hinton, WV 25951
304-466-7103
Taylor County
Taylor County Courthouse
214 W. Main Street
Grafton, WV 26354
304- 265-2480
Tucker County
Tucker County Courthouse
1215 First Street
Parsons, WV 26287
304-478-2606
Tyler County
Tyler County Courthouse
Main Street
Middlebourne, WV 26149
304-758-4811
Upshur County
Upshur County Courthouse
38 W. Main Street
Buckhannon, WV 26201
304-472-2370
Wayne County
Wayne County Courthouse
Court Street
Wayne, WV 25570
304- 272- 6360
Webster County
Webster County Courthouse
2 Court Square
Webster Springs, WV 26288
304-847- 2421
Wetzel County
Wetzel County Courthouse
Main Street
New Martinsville, WV 26155
304-455-8219
Wirt County
Wirt County Courthouse
Court Street
Elizabeth, WV 26143
304-275-6597
Wood County
Wood County Judicial Building
317 Market Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
304-424-1700
Wyoming County
Wyoming County Courthouse
P.O. Box 190
Bank Street
Pineville, WV 24874
304-732-8000
