Practice Areas

Coal Mining Accidents

West Virginia Coal Mining Accident Lawyers

According to BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co., the private company that replaced West Virginia's workers' compensation system, the coal mining industry pays some of the highest premiums of any industry in the state. The reason is obvious. Coal Mining is dangerous. Whether coal mines are underground or on the surface, coal miners face a wide range of hazards everyday.

A Respected West Virginia Coal Mining Accident Law Firm

At Wilson, Frame & Metheney, P.L.L.C., our coal mining attorneys are committed to ensuring people injured in West Virginia mining accidents receive optimal compensation for their injuries. Our coal mining accident lawyers have successfully handled a number of personal injury cases related to the coal industry. Our workplace injury page lists several cases representing mining accident cases our attorneys have handled in the past.

Common Causes of Mine Injuries

While mine safety is far better than it was a few decades ago, coal miners still face a host of significant dangers every day. Common causes of mine injuries include:

Longwall Shield Collapse
Longwall Shearer Malfunction
Derailer and Haulage Track Design Defect
Runaway Mine Car
Methane Explosion
Coal Stockpile Collapse
Failure to Provide Safety Equipment
Roof Falls
Rib Rolls
Burns
Electrocution
Defective Tools and Equipment
Crush Injuries from Mining Equipment
Failure to Train Personnel
Improper Operation of Mining Equipment
Deliberate Exposure to Danger
Disregard for Mine Safety
Silica Dust (Coal Dust)

Major Mines in West Virginia

The major mines and mining companies operating in West Virginia include:

McElroy Mine operated by McElroy Coal Company
Robinson Run No 95 operated by Consolidation Coal Company
Loveridge No 22 operated by Consolidation Coal Company
Federal No 2 operated by Eastern Associated Coal Corp
Samples Mine operated by Catenary Coal Company
Hobet 21 Surface Mine operated by Hobet Mining, Inc.
No 1 Surface operated by Alex Energy, Inc.
Twilight MTR Surface Mine operated by Progress Coal
American Eagle Mine operated by Speed Mining Inc.
Emerald Mine No. 1 operated by Emerald Coal Resources, LP
Blacksville No 2 operated by Consolidation Coal Company
Cumberland Mine operated by Cumberland Coal Resources, LP

Protecting the Long-Term Interests of Coal Miners

Given the risks of coal mining it is important to have an attorney that is willing to look out for your long-term interest and the interests of your family. Coal mining injures involving back injuries, brain injuries, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, burns, broken or crushed bones, silicosis, and a host of other injures, can prevent a miner from ever returning to work. Our West Virginia coal mining lawyers are committed to ensuring that injured coal miners receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries.

Mining Accidents - Our trial lawyers have successfully represented coal mining families for three generations. We prosecute claims against coal mining companies and coal mining equipment manufacturers involving serious injury and death.

The following are some representative cases involving coal mining accidents:

Longwall Shield Collapse - Verdict for a coal mining family against Eastern Associated Coal for the death of a coal miner at the Federal No. 2 Mine. A coal miner was killed when a defective long wall shield collapsed. The verdict included punitive damages against the coal company. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the family.
Longwall Shearer Malfunction - International litigation on behalf of a coal miner whose arm was severed by a defective long wall shearer. Consolidation Coal Company and the German manufacturer, Gebr. Eickhoff, paid a substantial settlement during trial. Our law firm constructed an elaborate scaled model to demonstrate to the jury how the shearer operated and how its design was defective. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the coal miner and his family.
Derailer and Haulage Track Design Defect - Settlement for a coal miner against Southern Ohio Coal Company for a serious injury at the Martinka Mine. A coal miner's leg was amputated by a runaway coal mine car. The case focused on the lack of appropriate derailers on the haulage track. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the coal miner and his family.
Runaway mine car - Settlement against a coal mine operator and the manufacturer of a mine car. The coal miners were severely injured when they exited a runaway mantrip. The absence of a derailer contributed to the cause of the event. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the coal miners and their families.
Methane explosion - Settlement for two coal miners against Consolidation Coal Company arising out of a methane gas explosion at the Blacksville No. 1 Mine. During installation of casing through an opening in the cap covering the production shaft, a methane-air mixture was ignited by sparks produced by arc welding. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the coal miners and their families.
Coal Stockpile Collapse - Several employees of Consolidation Coal Company and outside contractors walked out on a massive coal stockpile to examine an overhead conveyor that had broken. A system of feeders beneath the stockpile was utilized to draw down the stockpile and convey coal to a preparation plant. Unknown to the miners, a large void or cavity had formed within the stockpile. The stockpile collapsed without warning swallowing five miners. Our firm was able to prove that Consolidation Coal Company had experienced a similar occurrence at another mine and that the dangers presented by coal stockpiles were well known in the mining industry. Our firm again used its resources to build a scale model of the coal storage bin, stockpile, and overhead conveyor system to dramatically illustrate the sequence of events.
Failure to Provide Safety Equipment - Verdict for a coal miner against coal operator arising out of a surface mine operation in north-central West Virginia. The coal miner lost an eye because of the failure of the mine operator to provide appropriate safety equipment. The monies received in this case were in addition to the workers compensation benefits procured for the coal miner and his family.
Grant Town Tipple Demolition - Verdict for a laborer against a salvage company during the demolition of the Grant Town coal tipple. The laborer was seriously injured when he was crushed due to the failure of the demolition company to establish and follow properly engineered demolition and safety protocols.

Contact Our West Virginia Coal Mining Accident Lawyers

The coal mining accident attorneys at Wilson, Frame & Metheney, P.L.L.C., represent clients throughout West Virginia. Our firm offers free initial consultations, 24-hour legal service, and contingency fee arrangements on coal mining accident cases.

If you or a family member has been injured in a coal mining accident, please contact our coal mining accident lawyers for a free initial consultation. Our attorneys can be reached toll free at 1-800-734-7070, by e-mail, or by filling out the intake form on the Contact Us page.

The offices of Wilson, Frame & Metheney, P.L.L.C., are located in Morgantown, West Virginia. We serve clients throughout West Virginia including the cities of Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Kingwood, Elkins, and Grafton.