What Is Berthold Law Firm, PLLC?

Berthold Law Firm, PLLC is a personal injury law practice based in Charleston, West Virginia, serving clients throughout the state. According to its website, the firm offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee basis: you don't pay unless they win. If you were injured in West Virginia and are deciding whether to contact a lawyer, this page explains what the firm says it does and what that means for you.

Where the firm is based and who it serves

The firm is located in Charleston, the state capital and its largest city, in Kanawha County. Its stated service area is all of West Virginia, not just the Charleston metro area, so geography alone shouldn't stop you from inquiring if you were hurt elsewhere in the state.

What kind of law it practices

The firm identifies itself as a personal injury practice. That is a specific area of civil law: representing people who have been physically or financially harmed by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, usually to recover money for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and related losses.

Because the site describes the practice at the category level rather than listing every claim type, the practical way to check fit is to ask directly whether your situation is one the firm handles. Typical personal injury matters include:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions
• Slip-and-fall or other premises injuries
• Injuries from defective products
• Workplace injuries (which can involve both injury claims and workers' compensation issues)
• Dog bites and similar incidents

If your matter is a different type of case — a criminal charge, a divorce, a business dispute, or a real estate closing — a personal injury firm is generally not the right starting point, and you should look for a practice that focuses on that area.

The two terms worth understanding before you call

Free consultation

The site states that the initial consultation is free. In practice, this means you can describe what happened and ask questions without paying for that first conversation. It does not mean the firm takes every case; a free consultation is an evaluation, and the lawyer may conclude your matter isn't one they can help with.

Contingency fee — "you don't pay unless we win"

This is the fee structure the site advertises. Instead of billing you by the hour, the lawyer's fee comes out of any recovery obtained. If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee under this model.

Two things this does not automatically cover, and which you should confirm in writing before hiring anyone:

• Case costs vs. fees. Filing fees, records requests, expert witnesses, and deposition costs are expenses separate from the attorney's fee. Ask who advances them and whether you could owe them if the case loses.
• The percentage and its timing. Contingency percentages can change depending on whether a case settles or goes to trial. Get the specific numbers for your situation rather than assuming a standard rate.

How to decide whether to contact them

A short checklist before you reach out:

1. Check the deadline. Personal injury claims are subject to statutes of limitation, which vary by claim type and state. Waiting can permanently bar a claim, so treat timing as urgent.
2. Gather the basics. Date and location of the incident, any police or incident report, medical records and bills, photos, and correspondence with insurers.
3. Be cautious with insurers first. Statements you give an adjuster before consulting a lawyer can be used against you later.
4. Ask about fit and fees on the call. Confirm they handle your claim type, that the consultation is free, and get the contingency terms and cost policy in writing.

The firm's own framing — Charleston-based, statewide reach, personal injury focus, free consultation, no fee unless they win — gives you the criteria to evaluate it against other West Virginia injury firms on the same dimensions: location and coverage, practice focus, fee structure, and cost responsibility.