Weirton Legal Issues Blog

There are many things that drivers may take for granted as they travel on West Virginia roadways. For example, some people overlook the fact that something as simple as obeying traffic lights can prevent a car accident with significant consequences. Unfortunately, two women were recently injured following a crash that allegedly occurred because of a driver who failed to obey traffic signals.

The incident happened at approximately 6 a.m. on a day in early October. According to reports, the 46-year-old male driver of a sports utility vehicle ran a red light, sideswiping a pickup truck driven by an 18-year-old male. The older driver is said to have run another red light, striking a vehicle driven by a 37-year-old woman.

With the volumes of oil and gas that society needs to function, the hazards that workers in the West Virginia oil and gas industry face every day are taken for granted. Their jobs are among those that are rated the most dangerous in the world. However, overtime and wage issues are prevalent. Does it not make sense then that they are adequately rewarded for the risks they take and the many hours they spend away from their families?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a workweek is 40 hours, and any additional hours worked must be paid at one and one-half times the worker's standard rate of pay per hour. Sadly, many employers find ways to limit the wages they pay to hard-working men and women. Some employers steal work hours by excluding some compensable hours.

Many oil and gas workers and other employees here in West Virginia do a lot of driving in connection to their work. Are workers entitled to compensation for their travel time?

It depends on the specifics of the travel. There are federal rules in place regarding what does and does not count as work time for compensation and overtime purposes. Some types of travel time qualify as work time under these rules, while others do not.

When authorities receive information about the possible presence of drug activity in the area, they are generally obligated to initiate an investigation. Those who become involved in a similar incident may feel somewhat intimidated by the process, and they might be uncertain how to respond should they stand accused of wrongdoing. A recent investigation in West Virginia has left a 31-year-old woman facing multiple drug charges.

According to reports, the incident was part of a recent investigation into reports of drug activity at a local home. This investigation reportedly led to the search of a local residence, and during the search, authorities claim to have uncovered the presence of multiple packages containing unspecified amounts of methamphetamine. In addition, police allegedly located multiple items of drug paraphernalia, including digital scales.