Travel Safely This Thanksgiving!

According to AAA, the number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving will increase 11% as compared to last year. This means that almost forty million people will be reaching their holiday destination by driving. With more vehicles on the roads, travel risks increase. Poor weather conditions and distracted driving can cause serious accidents. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys offers these tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday travel season.

Know your route and the risks before you leave your home. Make sure you know the latest weather forecasts and road conditions along your route. Have your directions mapped out in your mind, as well as plugged into your GPS. This will keep you on the most direct, traffic-free path, which can reduce your risk of being in an accident.

Before you get on the highway, prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel. […]

Fatigue in the Workplace: A Deadly Occupational Hazard

Generally speaking, American workers aren’t getting enough sleep. In some industries, fatigue at work can be deadly. And some workers are more at risk than others.

According a 2017 NSC report, fatigue is any sensation of tiredness, sleepiness, reduced energy and an increased effort needed to perform tasks. Fatigue can be caused by many factors, the most common being a poor night’s sleep or the product of a grueling work schedule. Fatigue decreases one’s ability to think clearly and can result in dangerous decision-making and reduced productivity. It is important for employers to understand the underlying causes of fatigue in order to minimize and mitigate those factors that affect the health and safety of their employees.

The 2017 NSC report polled workers and the data resulted in nine main fatigue risk factors for employers to note: shift work, high risk hours, demanding jobs, long shifts, […]

Child Passenger Safety Week 2018

September 23-29 is Child Passenger Safety Week

Car accidents are a leading cause of death in children and teenagers.  Child Passenger Safety Week is designed to raise awareness of common safety mistakes and give parents and caregivers the information they can use to keep their children safe on the road. PennDOT and safety advocacy groups will be working with the public to spread awareness. There will also be free “car seat checks” set up all throughout Pennsylvania to help parents ensure that their seats are installed properly.

Children are particularly vulnerable in car accidents, but many injuries can be prevented, or at least made less severe. One easy way to help keep your child safe is by making sure they are in the right seat. All children under 12 should ride in the back seat, as air bags can cause harm to a child’s small body in the event of a crash. […]

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Thank a Trucker: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

September 9 through September 15, 2018, is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW). This week, we show our respect and gratitude for the 3.5 million men and women who keep our economy moving.

Truck drivers do a demanding, important, and often thankless job. We depend on truck drivers every single day to transport goods across the country. Most of us take for granted those who bear the enormous responsibility of safely moving 70,000 lb vehicles safely across the nation’s highways. They even train to combat human trafficking in the United States as the “eyes and ears of our nation’s highways”. They often sacrifice time with their own families to make their deliveries on time to ensure that we have the goods we need. Some truck drivers sacrifice far more: A recent government report on workplace fatalities showed that truck drivers had the highest number of workplace fatalities.  […]

Priest abuse lawsuit seeks to extend the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawsuit seeks to extend statute of limitations in priest abuse cases

A lawsuit against the Diocese of Pittsburgh aims to extend or eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases against the Catholic Church stemming from sexual abuse allegations against clergy members and religious administrators. The lawsuit involves a man who, as a young child, was allegedly abused by a priest named in the grand jury report released earlier this month. The suit further alleges that because these accusations were not made public within the statute of limitations, the victim did not have the opportunity to seek justice.

The statute of limitations typically limits the amount of time a victim has to file a civil case against the person or organization that caused them harm. However, the statute has been extended in cases where there has been “fraudulent concealment of evidence.

Extend the statute: All abuse victims deserve justice

Similar attempts at abolishing or extending the statute of limitations for abuse victims have failed in the past, […]

J&J ordered to pay $4.69 billion to cancer victims in talcum powder lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $4.69 billion in talcum powder lawsuit

A St. Louis jury returned a $4.69B verdict in favor of 22 women who claimed Johnson and Johnson’s products contained asbestos which caused them to develop cancer.

The verdict is the latest in a series of massive wins for women and their families who have filed cancer-related lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson. In August, 2017, a Los Angeles jury awarded a $417 million verdict in favor of a woman who claimed that Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder caused her to develop ovarian cancer, and in February 2016, a Missouri jury awarded $72 million to the family of a woman died of ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J’s baby powder.

In its natural form, talc (a common ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products, […]

Summer grilling safety tips

Keep your backyard barbecue free of fire hazards

Grilling is a summertime staple, but it’s also an extremely common cause of house fires. Keep your family, friends, and party guests safe from harm by making sure you’re up to speed on grill safety.  It is very important to be aware of how dangerous grills are, what to do before you use a grill, and how to handle a grill when it is on, to prevent serious fires or injuries.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, gas grills were involved in an average of 7,900 home fires per year, including 3,300 structure fires, and 4,700 outdoor fires.  Leaking and breakage were the top problems with gas grills.  Five out of six grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas, while 14% used charcoal or other solid fuel.  Grills not only are causing many structure, […]

The Family of Lawyers

Learn the History of Munley Law

The Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys firm has been around since 1959, but our history in this area goes back much farther than that. For more than 150 years, Northeast PA has been our family’s home, and standing up for what’s right has been a principle passed down for generations. This summer, we’ll be taking a look back at the history of our region, our family, and our firm to celebrate the ones who came before us and to remember their stories.

Most of our ancestors first came to this region in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Lackawanna Valley was transforming into a booming industrial center, thanks to the anthracite coal, steel, and rail industries. Lackawanna Iron and Coal employed thousands of people.

Irish, Polish, Italian and Russian immigrants came to our region in search of employment and a better life. […]

Uber will no longer force assault victims to arbitration

Uber will no longer force the use of private arbitration for riders, drivers or employees who claim that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed.  Rather, these cases can now be brought to court and be heard by a jury.

Until now, riders waived their constitutional right to a trial when they signed Uber’s user agreement. Now, anyone who claims that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed as an Uber rider, driver, or employee can have their individual cases brought to court and be heard by a jury. Uber will also end the requirement that victims who accept settlements through arbitration must sign confidentiality agreements that prevent them from talking about their experiences.

The policy change does not include other forms of harassment.

Arbitration used to silence victims of assault and harassment

Because of confidentiality agreements, the company has been able to keep the issue out of the press.  […]

Family of Marine killed in truck crash receives $8M settlement

Representing the Stevens family has been one of the greatest honors of our careers. It has been our privilege to advocate on their behalf and bring this case to a just resolution.  Read more about the case below.

On Monday, the truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys reached an $8 million settlement in a case stemming from a deadly truck accident in Susquehanna County. The crash claimed the life of 27-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Stevens.  Stevens was an active duty Marine and the father of two young boys. He served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was in town for his sister’s wedding. His wife Katherine Stevens was represented by Marion Munley, Robert W. Munley, III, and Caroline Munley. The case was scheduled for trial this week before the Honorable John Jones of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. […]

IVC Filter Lawsuit Trial Starts This Week

The first case against medical device maker C.R. Bard goes to trial this week in Phoenix, AZ.

Over 3,000 lawsuits are pending against Bard in the United States. Plaintiffs allege that Bard’s IVC filter is unsafe and has been linked to serious complications and death. The bellwether trial, Sherr-Una Booker v C.R. Bard Inc. and Bard Vascular Inc, is scheduled to begin on March 13, 2018.  Booker has alleged that her complications include filter tilting, fracture and perforation according to DrugWatch.com. We will be watching closely to see how this trial unfolds and what the implications may be for other victims seeking legal recourse.

In a 2015 article, NBC news revealed that Bard continued to sell “G2” IVC filters for five years after it knew that the devices had potentially fatal flaws.   […]

Fatal PA Turnpike accident shows danger of poorly maintained roads

Badly maintained roads pose car crash risk

Last week, a 70-year-old man was killed driving through the Lehigh Tunnel on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. According to news reports, he was killed when an electrical conduit (a pipe-like tube holding power cables) fell from the ceiling of the tunnel and crashed through the windshield of his truck.

According to reports in The Morning Call  the southbound Lehigh Tunnel is the newest of five tunnels on the turnpike’s system and it is the only one with a conduit located directly above traffic. Federal regulations require that tunnels be inspected every two years. The most recent inspection of the Lehigh Tunnel was in September 2016.

Poor tunnel maintenance can be fatal for drivers

In 2016 alone, American roads carried people and goods over three trillion miles. […]

Dan Munley attends IIHS tractor trailer crash test

Munley trucking team invited to IIHS crash test

On Tuesday, August 29, 2017, Atty. Daniel W. Munley along with paralegal, Jerome Levans, attended a crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Each year, thousands of people are either killed or injured when a passenger vehicle collides with the side of a tractor-trailer.  When a tractor-trailer is hit from the side, the advanced safety features of the passenger vehicle are not triggered because the passenger vehicle’s windshield is the first thing that comes into contact with the trailer. Hundreds of people die in crashes like these every year.

The IIHS crash tested the “Angel Wing” underride guard from Airflow Deflector, Inc. They are designed to prevent passenger vehicles from going underneath the tractor-trailer during a side-impact crash.  […]

Pennsylvania’s New DUI Law Goes Into Effect

What is the new DUI law in PA?

A new DUI law goes into effect in Pennsylvania this week, placing different restrictions on first-time DUI drivers.

Under the new law, first-time offenders will have to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles. Previously, ignition interlocks were only required after two or more offenses; first-time offenders would instead face a license suspension of one year.

What is an ignition interlock device?

An ignition interlock device is essentially a breathalizer that will prevent a car’s engine from starting until the driver blows into a tube to indicate that they are not under the influence. If the device detects alcohol, the vehicle will not start.

Those in favor of the new law say that the ignition interlock will be more effective in preventing drunk driving accidents and deaths, […]

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers From Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Named Best Lawyers 2018

The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are pleased to announce that all six of our partners have been recognized in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. For the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 7.4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 58,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed;  inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” […]

Truck accident lawyer Marion Munley makes history

Marion Munley achieves a major milestone in her career as a truck accident lawyer

Marion Munley has been named Chair-Elect of the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group; she will be the first woman in the association’s history to lead the Trucking Litigation Group.

In a field dominated by men, Marion Munley has established a reputation as a titan of trucking litigation. For more than 30 years, Marion has helped individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries and devastating loss in accidents involving commercial trucks and tractor trailers. Over the course of her career, she has won millions of dollars for victims and their families, and helped shape the laws governing trucking industry safety.

Marion is the second Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys partner to lead the TLG; her brother Daniel Munley previously served as chairperson of the group. The Trucking Litigation Group provides its members with the tools and resources they need to successfully litigate trucking cases and remain abreast of important developments in trucking laws. […]

How the PA Supreme Court ruling on IREs affects injured workers

Injured workers in Pennsylvania: If you underwent an IRE (impairment rating evaluation or exam) you may be entitled to additional benefits. Contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to learn how the PA Supreme Court decision affects you. 

The recent PA Supreme Court decision in Protz v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Derry Area School District) may affect Pennsylvania workers who have received disability benefits.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on IRE process may entitle injured workers to additional benefits

Since 1996, employers could require injured workers to undergo impairment rating evaluations or IREs after two full years of receiving total disability benefits.  Under Section 306(a.2) of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, IRE physicians used the most recent edition of the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to calculate an impairment percentage. If a patient was deemed less than 50% impaired, […]

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneysyers named 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys: Six Super Lawyers and a Rising Star

We’re pleased to announce that once again the personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been included in the annual list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.

Only 5% of the attorneys in Pennsylvania earn this title. For more than a decade, the Munley lawyers have earned a spot on the Super Lawyers list. This year, we’re thrilled to announce that our own Katie Nealon has been named a Rising Star. Super Lawyers Rising Stars must be under the age of 40 and in practice for less than 10 years. This list is highly selective; only 2.5% of the young lawyers in Pennsylvania make the cut.

• Robert W. Munley, Sr., Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury;  Products: Plaintiff
• Marion K. Munley, Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff, […]

Construction workers say productivity trumps safety

In America’s deadliest industry, construction workers say safety takes a back seat

A recent National Safety Council survey found that more than half of construction workers (58%) perceive that safety takes a back seat to productivity on their job sites.

To gauge employee perceptions about workplace safety, the NSC interviewed 2,000 American workers across 14 industries.

Of construction workers surveyed, 51% say management does the bare minimum when it comes to safety; 47% say they’d feel afraid to report a safety issue. These numbers are alarming, especially considering the fact that construction has more workplace fatalities than any other industry in the U.S.

No worker should feel stuck between losing their job, or losing their life. Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health said,“When workers can’t speak up, […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns of the health risk of shift work

The National Sleep Foundation defines as shift worker as anyone who follows a work schedule outside of the typical 9 to 5 business day. Millions of Americans are considered shift workers, including doctors and nurses, pilots, police officers, customer service reps and commercial drivers among others.

According to WebMD, there are about 8.6 million people performing shift work in the U.S., either through rotating shifts during the week, or working a night job. WebMD quoted a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School as saying that there is strong evidence that shift work is related to a number of serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Shift work has also been linked to ulcers and other stomach problems, as well as depression and an increased risk of accidents or injury.

Shift Workers and Fatigue

One of the most serious problems shift workers face is frequent sleep disturbance that results in excessive sleepiness and fatigue. […]