Pursuing your Claims. Protecting your Rights.
Determining who was at fault in a multi-vehicle crash is never easy, whether the accident occurs in West Virginia or elsewhere. That makes it tough to seek damage recovery through the civil justice system, and it could also complicate insurance claims. Any accident involving three or more vehicles is considered a multi-car accident. How do multi-car accidents happen? A significant number of them happen because drivers fail to…
Employees in West Virginia might have questions about per diem allowances. Who qualifies, and what are the rules? Per diem is a Latin term that translates to “by day.” Employers may reimburse the actual expenses of employees with travel duties, or they may choose to provide per diem allowances calculated by prescribed rates. The General Services Administration (GSA) establishes per diem rates for lodging, meals and…
Many employees nationwide, including in West Virginia, use various ways to protect their business’s bottom lines — many times to the detriment of their employees. One method they use is the misclassification of employees. It costs a company a whole lot less to employ independent contract workers than permanent employees. How do employers benefit from this practice? Misclassification of workers benefits…
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, over 4.5 million people nationwide suffer dog bites each year, including many in West Virginia. Of those victims, at least 800,000 people need medical care. Further statistics indicate that about 50% of those cases involved children. A misconception exists that only certain canine breeds bite people. Instead, the dog’s history and behavior often…
If you work more than 40 hours in a single workweek, you might be entitled to overtime pay. Your overtime rate is 150% of your average hourly wage. Therefore, if you typically made $7 an hour, your West Virginia employer would be required to pay an overtime wage of $10.50 per hour. There are several actions that you might be…
Ambulance Service Violated Federal Law by Not Paying Employees for Sleep Time After a rigorous investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Divisions, the Jefferson Hills Area Ambulance Association—which is a private service performing as the Southeast Regional EMS in Clairton and Elizabeth, Pennsylvania—was ordered to pay $35,492 in earned back wages to 12 first responders for…
Pittsburgh Home Health Care Agency Misclassified Employees Under Federal Law A U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh has ordered a payment of more than $1.6 million in back wages and damages to 546 home health aides. Christian Home Healthcare in Pittsburgh misclassified the aides as independent contractors and failed to pay required overtime wages, in…
Reportedly, of the millions of emergency room visits for fall injuries in West Virginia and across the country, approximately 12% involve slip-and-fall accidents. Furthermore, these accidents are regarded as the primary cause of head trauma and brain injuries. A significant number of personal injury lawsuits in civil courts involve property owners held accountable for falls. Traumatic Brain Injuries Fall victims…
Can I Obtain Compensation for My Pet’s Injuries? In the United States, owning a pet is the norm. According to a recent survey taken by the American Pet Products Association, over 65 percent of U.S. households own at least one pet. These pets are not just perceived as “pets” though – they are part of the family. They have not…
Young people in West Virginia who enter the job market for the first time might have heard that the Fair Labor Standards Act will protect their interests. But what does that mean? They might have questions about pay, wages and benefits, and what is required by the FLSA. Payment for night or weekend work Based on FLSA requirements, workers must receive at least…