Charleston, WV asked in Car Accidents for West Virginia

Q: I want to sue for punitive damages for a car accident do I just go to my local court and file a law suite.

Do I fIle that against the insurance company and the insurer.

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Wyomissing, PA

A: If you are suing for damages for injury you only get punitive damages if defendant was dui. The fact his company act like jerks is not on them. However it's possible under some situations you may have an unfair insurance claims handling case. These are very technical. Get a free consult from a member of the WVaTrial Lawyers Assn. that handles insurance bad faith.

D. Michael Burke agrees with this answer

D. Michael Burke
D. Michael Burke
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Martinsburg, WV

A: In West Virginia, you must sue the owner of the car and the driver, if the driver is not the owner. You cannot sue the owner's or driver's insurance company. Their insurance company will hire an attorney to represent them.

I think that you mean "compensatory damages," not punitive damages (unless the driver was drunk or meant to cause the accident). You can sue for medical bills, lost income, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of the capacity to enjoy life, permanent injuries, inconvenience, and aggravation.

I suggest that you at least speak with an attorney who handles thid type of case. If you choose, you can go to magistrate court and represent yourself. The magistrate court will have forms you can fill out.

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.