If you or a loved one has been involved in a coal mining accident, contact our attorneys in West Virginia, serving Beckley and Charleston.
West Virginia Coal Mining Accident Attorneys – Helping Victims in Charleston, Beckley, and Throughout West Virginia
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 115 fatalities in West Virginia coal mines between 1996 and 2007. During that same time period, there were a total of 390 fatalities in coal mines throughout the United States including West Virginia, and a staggering 50,000 non-fatal coal mine injuries. While it is generally accepted that there is some inherent risk involved with coal mining, if you have been injured or a loved one has suffered a wrongful death in a coal mining accident, you may be eligible for monetary compensation. Our West Virginia coal mining accident attorneys, serving Charleston, Beckley, and all of West Virginia, are familiar with the unique laws that surround the coal mining industry.
Mine operators are legally obligated to ensure that the mine provides a safe environment in which to work, and that only skilled, trained individuals are sent to work in them. If a mine operator or owner has failed to live up to the standards set forth by state and federal statutes, you may be able to bring forth a deliberate intent case against the operator or owner. As West Virginia residents, the coal mining accident attorneys at Berthold, Tiano, & O'Dell are uniquely familiar with these types of accidents. Our hope is that through aggressive litigation and costly punitive damages, we can help prevent future coal mine accidents like the one in Sago by holding coal mine owners responsible for their actions.
Causes of Coal Mine Accidents
Mining is one of the most dangerous professions in the country. An employer who doesn’t follow exacting safety standards, and provide expert training, is potentially risking the lives of every miner who enters the work site.
Coal mine accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, some more serious than others. Many of the causes of coal mine accidents are specific to the industry, which means that the parties most capable of preventing such injuries are the owners and operators of the mine. A party with proprietary knowledge of mining is much better equipped to prevent accidents than a new hire with little to no familiarity of the trade. This level of danger, and the exclusivity of these accidents to the industry, is why owners and operators must be held liable when accidents occur. Some of the more common accidents at coal mines include:
- Coal Stockpile Collapse
- Roof Collapse
- Longwall Shield Collapse
- Methane Explosion
- Runaway Mine Car
- Defective Tools and Equipment
- Lack of Safety Equipment
- Injuries Related to Mine Equipment Usage
- Silica Dust (Coal Dust)
If you or a loved one has been injured in a coal mining accident, contact our coal mining accident attorneys, serving the Beckley and Charleston, West Virginia area. We can review your case and determine your eligibilities.
Am I Eligible for Compensation?
If you have been injured in a coal mining accident, you may be eligible for monetary compensation to cover the cost of hospital bills and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. One of our experienced and knowledgeable coal mining accident attorneys can review your case and determine if you are eligible for compensation. Our familiarity with coal mining accidents, and the statutes of West Virginia pertaining to the safe operation of coal mines, gives us the unique ability to determine if you have a legitimate workers’ compensation, deliberate intent, wrongful death, or personal injury case. If we believe you have a case, we will aggressively litigate on your behalf so you can obtain just and fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact the Law Office of Berthold, Tiano & O’Dell
If you or a loved one has been injured in a coal mining accident, the lawyers at our firm would like to help. To learn more about your legal rights as an injured coal miner, or to schedule a case review with one of our coal mining accident attorneys, contact our West Virginia firm, serving Charleston, Beckley, and surrounding areas.