Harrison County, WV Lawyers: Injury, Criminal Defense and Civil Cases

By J. Brandon Shumaker  ·  Slavey & Shumaker PLLC  ·  Serving Clarksburg, Bridgeport and all of Harrison County  ·  Last updated October 27, 2026

When you are hurt in a crash on I-79 or U.S. 50, charged with a crime in Clarksburg or Bridgeport, or caught in a dispute over money or property, you need a lawyer who knows West Virginia law and the Harrison County courts. Slavey & Shumaker PLLC represents clients in Monongalia, Preston, Marion and Harrison Counties, along with personal injury clients throughout the State of West Virginia, and our attorneys practice regularly in the circuit and magistrate courts of Harrison County.

We represent clients in every part of the county, including Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Shinnston, Stonewood, Salem, Nutter Fort, Lumberport, Anmoore, West Milford and Lost Creek.

1. How We Help Harrison County Clients

2. Harrison County Courts

Both courts are in Clarksburg, the county seat. The circuit court sits in the Harrison County Courthouse on West Main Street, and the magistrate court is in a separate location on Washington Avenue. Harrison County is in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

Court locations are from the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s Harrison County court information page. Check your court papers for the exact courtroom and time of any hearing.

3. Car, Truck and Motorcycle Crashes in Harrison County

Harrison County sits where I-79 meets U.S. 50 at Clarksburg and Bridgeport, so local drivers share the road with interstate and through traffic. We represent people hurt in crashes on roads including:

• Interstate 79 through Harrison County, including the exits at Lost Creek (Exit 110), Stonewood and Nutter Fort (Exit 115, WV 20), Anmoore (Exit 117, WV 58), Clarksburg and Bridgeport (Exit 119, U.S. 50) and Shinnston (Exit 125, WV 131)
• U.S. 50 (Corridor D) through Salem, Clarksburg and Bridgeport
• U.S. 19 and WV 20 in Clarksburg

Interstate speeds, commercial trucks and busy commercial corridors can all play a part in serious crashes. Whatever the cause, the steps after a crash are the same: get medical care, keep the crash report number from the agency that responded, photograph the vehicles and the scene if you can, and be careful about giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before talking with a lawyer. Our after-a-crash guide walks through each step.

4. Personal Injury Claims: Deadlines, Fault and Insurance

The same West Virginia law applies to an injury claim from Harrison County as anywhere else in the state:

• Filing deadline. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)). Claims involving medical malpractice, government entities and injured children have their own rules, which our personal injury overview explains.
• Shared fault. You can still recover as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of everyone else responsible, with your award reduced by your share of fault (§ 55-7-13c(c)).
• Underinsured drivers. If the at-fault driver’s available insurance is not enough to cover all of your damages, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage you selected may pay the rest, up to your UIM limits. Our car accident page explains how uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage works.

5. Criminal Charges in Harrison County

Most criminal cases in Harrison County begin in magistrate court. Magistrate courts have jurisdiction of all misdemeanor offenses committed in the county, conduct preliminary examinations on warrants charging felonies, and set bail (W. Va. Code § 50-2-3). Felony cases are prosecuted in the Harrison County Circuit Court.

We defend people charged with:

• DUI and other traffic offenses
• Drug possession and distribution
• Domestic battery and domestic assault
• Theft and property offenses
• Probation violations and other misdemeanor and felony charges

6. Civil and Consumer Cases

We represent Harrison County individuals and businesses in contract, business and property disputes, and we defend people who have been sued. Civil actions of not more than $20,000, not counting interest and costs, can be heard in magistrate court; larger claims and disputes over title to real estate go to circuit court (W. Va. Code § 50-2-1). If you have been served with a lawsuit in circuit court, your answer is generally due within 30 days (W. Va. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)).

We also represent consumers harassed by debt collectors. The West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act prohibits collectors from using threats, harassment, deception, unreasonable publication or unfair means to collect consumer debts. When a collector violates the Act, a consumer may recover actual damages and a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation (W. Va. Code § 46A-5-101), and the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees (§ 46A-5-104). Learn more on our debt collection harassment page.

7. Working With Our Firm on a Harrison County Case

Our office is at 174 Chancery Row in downtown Morgantown, beside the Monongalia County Courthouse. You do not need to live in Monongalia County to hire us.

• Free consultation. Call (304) 212-5791 or use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
• Telephone consultations. If you cannot travel to Morgantown, we offer consultations by telephone.
• Direct attorney contact. You work directly with the attorneys handling your case.

8. Frequently Asked Questions About Harrison County Cases

This page is provided for general informational purposes about West Virginia law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.