Tag: Morgantown WV Auto Accident Lawyer

School Bus Accident in Monongalia County

On By Jeffery RobinetteIn Bus Accidents, Personal Injury, School Bus AccidentsLeave a comment

Van rear-ends school bus on Canyon Road near Morgantown, Injuring Two Children

school bus accidentAccording to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, two children were taken by ambulance from a Tuesday afternoon accident in which a minivan hit a school bus on Canyon Road on September 17th, 2013.

The bus driver had 46 kids on board. The bus departed Mountaineer Middle School and was stopped on Canyon Road when the accident occurred.  The driver said she had all of the bus’s normal caution lights on and the airbrake engaged.   “I thought I dropped my transmission,” the bus driver said, describing the impact. “Then I saw a plume of smoke come up behind the bus and the kids yelled.”  The van was partially lodged under the rear of the bus.

The children heard a large bump and said they thought the driver had just slammed on her brakes.  Those seated were not injured, but the two children who were injured were standing at the time of the impact.

No citations were issued at the accident scene; the accident is still under investigation.

The two injured children were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, but thankfully it seems that no one was seriously or sustained permanent injuries (although if it is your child who is on the school bus, any bus accident is a serious matter).

What you need to know about School Bus Safety

  • It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
  • Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals to motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus.
  • All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus.
  • In all cases, traffic behind the school bus (traveling in the same direction) must stop.
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit. Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus.
  • Be alert. Children are unpredictable. Children walking to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.
  • Never pass a school bus on the right. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences.

It is up to us to keep the kids safe – so please be careful!

Morgantown Accident Attorneys

Information provided by the Morgantown WV accident attorneys at the Robinette Legal Group, PLLC.  Prevention is always better than a cure.  Look alert for school buses and pedestrians, and let’s work together to prevent accidents.  If you have a question about accidents, call us today at 304-594-1800.

For more information see: The Dominion Post, “Van Hits School Bus; Two Children Injured,” by Ben Conley, September 18, 2013, http://www.dominionpost.com

Should I Salvage my Vehicle after a WV Car Accident?

On By Jeffery RobinetteIn Car Accidents, Personal Injury1 Comment

What is Spoilation of Evidence in a WV Car Accident Injury Claim?

Many people don’t know that they have an obligation to preserve evidence that caused their personal injury claim.  If you discard evidence (called “spoliation”), you may be prohibited from asserting part or even all of your injury claim.   In auto injury claims, you have a duty to preserve the evidence that is under your control or ownership.   So, you may need to keep a wrecked vehicle in the same condition if the vehicle malfunctioned in any way that may have caused a collision.   You may otherwise want to keep the vehicle in its unrepaired state until you have consulted with legal counsel because once the vehicle is repaired or salvaged, you can’t go back and inspect the damages.   So, you should take lots of photos of your damaged vehicle at a minimum before sending the vehicle to salvage.Van Fire outside

Your insurance adjuster may be encouraging you to discard or salvage your vehicle before adequate pictures or inspections can be taken of the damage.  Keep in mind that the “little scuff” on the back bumper may actually be a huge dent in the metal bumper system behind the plastic bumper cover.   If you allow the vehicle to be salvaged and crushed, then you are stuck with these limitations in presenting your injury claim.

What can an injured person do to make sure that they don’t destroy key evidence for their injury claim?

Meeting your duty to preserve evidence that you own or control can be confusing.  This is yet another reason to engage experienced legal counsel early in the process to safely navigate all the pitfalls that may compromise your insurance claim.

Morgantown Car Accident Injury Lawyers

If you or your loved one has been injured due to someone’s careless conduct it is important to act quickly to protect your claim. Mr. Robinette has handled hundreds of cases involving serious injury and wrongful death and can provide the insight you need right now.

Call Jeff Robinette today for a free evaluation of your case at 304-594-1800.Collision care 3d

We are glad to provide free books and information for WV accident victims: Collision Care: West Virginia Auto Collision Guide, and Righting the Wrong, West Virginia Serious Injury Guide:  304-594-1800.