A criminal conviction doesn't just mean fines and incarceration -- it also means a lifetime where that criminal record follows you everywhere you go. That can ultimately limit the opportunities you have and make it much harder to put your past where it belongs. Well,...
The People’s Lawyer
Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law
Does adultery still matter in a divorce?
No-fault divorce has become the law of the land nearly everywhere in the United States, including West Virginia. So, does it even matter if your spouse committed adultery during your marriage? Maybe. There are a few situations where your spouse's infidelity can still...
When you can end a protective order in West Virginia
You may have taken a protective order out on your spouse following a big fight between the two of you. People often take out protective orders when they feel their own safety, or the safety of their children is in jeopardy. While these orders cannot physically stop...
What pre-trial motions might affect your criminal case?
Some people have said that criminal trials are often won and lost long before the jury is seated. They're talking about the way pre-trial motions can affect the outcome of a case. Somewhere between the preliminary hearing (where a judge has to make the call about...
Injured in a car wreck? Don’t make these mistakes
A serious car accident can turn your entire world upside down in an instant and leave you out of work, struggling with injuries and juggling a load of unexpected bills all at once. One more challenge you'll face is the fact that the insurance companies involved in...
Why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney
Getting charged with a federal crime is terrifying. However, many people fail to realize exactly how much trouble they're really in, thanks to the onslaught of mandatory minimum sentences. Back in the 1980s when the U.S. government went full-tilt into the "War on...
West Virginia ranked in the top 10 for traffic danger
Traffic accidents sometimes turn fatal. A recent report suggests that West Virginia may be one of the deadlier states for driving in the nation. The report is by 24/7 Wall Street. It looked at population and motor vehicle fatality data for 2018 to estimate the traffic...
How are child support payments decided in West Virginia?
Going through a divorce is an emotional time, especially for children. They may not understand why you are splitting up with your spouse, and they are likely unhappy about it. Your children may even blame themselves. You want to do all you can to protect your kids....
How truckers may be able to minimize accidents
Truck-related fatalities are on the rise in West Virginia and other states. At a Transportation Research Board meeting in early 2019, the chief safety officer from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration presented the following statistics: Large-truck-occupant...
Road Safe America advocates speed limiters on large trucks
One way to reduce the number of large truck crashes is to incorporate safety technology on trucks, especially speed limiters. This is the conclusion that the non-profit Road Safe America reached after analyzing federal data on large truck crash fatalities. Between...
