West Virginia Car Accident Lawyers - Accident Statistics

West Virginia seceded from the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War, and was recognized as a state on June 20, 1863. It is something of a crossroads state because it straddles the Mason-Dixon Line that separates North and South. Renowned for its green, rolling hills, rich and diverse history, and a nearly inexhaustible supply of coal, West Virginia is one of the most important states in the Mid-Atlantic section of the U.S.

The history of West Virginia was shaped by an identity different then that of the rest of Virginia proper. As early as 1776 the western portion of the state past the Allegheny Mountains petitioned for independence, but it was not until 1861 that the years of separatist desires came to a head. When Virginia voted to secede from the Union, the western counties of the state refused to be party to treason, and began to isolate themselves from their eastern counterparts. West Virginia suffered comparatively little during the War compared to many other states, and even fielded 36,000 soldiers to help restore the Union.

Education plays a major role in the culture and society of West Virginia. West Virginia University is based in Morgantown but has locations in Parkersburg, Montgomery, Keyser, and Charleston. WVU is nationally recognized as one of the top engineering schools in the country, and NASA and the Institute for Scientific Research draw on the minds of the 25 Rhodes Scholars that the school has produced. The NCAA Division I Mountaineers football team recently won the 2006 Sugar Bowl that had to be held in Atlanta due to the extensive damage that Hurricane Katrina caused to the New Orleans Superdome. Perhaps the most famous alumnus of UWV is the late Don Knotts, the Emmy award-winning comic actor who stared in the Andy Griffith Show and Three s Company.

Other famous people that call the Mountain State home include gymnast Mary Lou Retton, football player Randy Moss, movie star Jennifer Garner, educator Booker T. Washington, author Pearl Buck, and test pilot and aviation legend Chuck Yeager. Famous attractions include New River Gorge Bridge, Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, and the Greenbrier Hotel and Resort, a favorite vacation spot for Presidents and other famous dignitaries, as well as being a nuclear fallout shelter for members of the legislative branch of the federal government.

Coal mining has had a hand in shaping virtually every aspect of West Virginia since the founding of the state in 1863. Until the rise of the oil industry at the end of the 19th century, coal was the dominant form of energy in the United States. Although no longer used in transportation, coal remains one of the most vital fuels that warms and powers homes throughout the country, and newer, cleaner-burning coal technologies promise to be one of the most innovative and important resources for the future of the U.S.

Due to its place at the junction of several regions of the United States, West Virginia is home to a number of important thoroughfares. The West Virginia Turnpike, Interstate 64, Interstate 77, Interstate 79, and Interstate 70 network across the state, and U.S. Highways 11, 21, 33, 50, and 35 connect the state to the rest of the nation.

Unfortunately, due to high traffic volume West Virginia is also home to a large number of car accidents. There were 411 fatal car accidents in West Virginia in 2004, which cost the state $1.26 billion in lost revenues. 119 of these fatalities were speed related, and there were also 27 motorcycles accidents as well as 27 pedestrian fatalities in 2004.

If you are the victim of a car accident in West Virginia, you need to seek out a dedicated and experienced West Virginia car accident lawyer. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering, but statute of limitation laws can restrict how much time you have to take action. Talk to West Virginia car accident lawyer today.