Preston County, WV Lawyers: Injury, Criminal Defense and Civil Cases
By J. Brandon Shumaker · Slavey & Shumaker PLLC · Serving Kingwood and all of Preston County · Last updated October 27, 2026
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When you are hurt in a crash on I-68 or WV 7, charged with a crime in Kingwood, or caught in a dispute over money or property, you need a lawyer who knows West Virginia law and the Preston 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 Preston County.
We represent clients in every part of the county, including Kingwood, Terra Alta, Bruceton Mills, Brandonville, Masontown, Reedsville, Rowlesburg, Tunnelton, Albright and Newburg, as well as Arthurdale, Aurora and Hazelton.
1. How We Help Preston County Clients
| Practice Area | What We Handle |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury | Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, workplace injuries and serious injuries |
| Criminal Defense | Misdemeanors and felonies, DUI, drug charges, domestic offenses, theft charges, bail and bond and record expungement |
| Civil Litigation | Contract disputes, business disputes, property and real estate disputes, and defense of people and businesses who have been sued |
| Consumer Protection | Debt collection harassment and credit report errors |
| Family Matters | Adoption and guardianship and conservatorship |
2. Preston County Courts
The Preston County Circuit Court and Magistrate Court both sit in the Preston County Courthouse in Kingwood, the county seat. The circuit court is part of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, which also includes Tucker County.
| Court | Location | Cases It Hears |
|---|---|---|
| Preston County Circuit Court | Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Kingwood, WV 26537 (Circuit Clerk, Room 301) | Felony prosecutions, civil cases over $20,000, and matters magistrate courts cannot hear, such as disputes over title to real estate W. Va. Code § 50-2-1 |
| Preston County Magistrate Court | Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Kingwood, WV 26537 (Magistrate Clerk, Room 201) | Misdemeanor offenses committed in the county, preliminary examinations on felony warrants and bail § 50-2-3; civil actions of not more than $20,000, not counting interest and costs § 50-2-1 |
Court locations are from the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s Preston County court information page. Check your court papers for the exact courtroom and time of any hearing.
3. Car, Truck and Motorcycle Crashes in Preston County
Preston County drivers travel a mix of interstate, U.S. and state routes, along with rural two-lane roads. We represent people hurt in crashes on roads including:
- Interstate 68 across the northern part of the county, including the exits at Bruceton Mills (Exit 23) and Hazelton (Exit 29)
- WV 7, which connects Morgantown with Reedsville and Kingwood
- WV 26, which runs from Bruceton Mills through Kingwood to U.S. 50 at Fellowsville
- U.S. 50 in the southern part of the county
Commercial trucks, winter weather and steep, winding roads 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.
Hurt in a Preston County Crash?
Talk with an injury lawyer about your claim. The consultation is free.
4. Personal Injury Claims: Deadlines, Fault and Insurance
The same West Virginia law applies to an injury claim from Preston 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 Preston County
Most criminal cases in Preston 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 Preston 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 Preston 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 Preston 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 Preston County Cases
Speak With a Lawyer About Your Preston County Case
Slavey & Shumaker PLLC, 174 Chancery Row, Morgantown. Serving Kingwood, Terra Alta, Bruceton Mills and all of Preston County.
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.