Pedestrian Rights: Navigating Truck Accidents in Crosswalks

Most people feel safe using a crosswalk as a routine activity. After all, these marked paths are specifically designed to protect pedestrians. However,

Understanding these dangers – whether they stem from poor crosswalk design, hazardous weather conditions, distracted drivers, or large commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers – is essential for staying safe. If you’ve been injured while using a crosswalk in Pennsylvania, understanding these factors can also be important for protecting your legal rights.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in the crosswalk in PA, your first call should be to the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Munley Law. We understand these complex cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Call Munley Law for a free consultation, and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.

Pedestrian Rights and Responsibilities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania law states that pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks and at intersections with unmarked crosswalks. […]

Is the Driver Always at Fault in a Pedestrian vs Car Accident?

Determining fault in pedestrian-vehicle accidents involves complex factors, as both drivers and pedestrians have specific responsibilities when using roadways. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law helps establish liability when both parties may share responsibility for an accident.

Understanding Fault in Pedestrian-Vehicle Accidents

Understanding road rules is critical for both drivers and pedestrians to navigate traffic situations. Drivers must yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks and be vigilant, especially in heavy traffic areas. Pedestrians must obey traffic signals, cross at designated crosswalks, and remain alert.

Pennsylvania’s Comparative Negligence Law

The law in Pennsylvania follows the approach known as comparative negligence. This means that if the pedestrian and driver are partially at fault in the event of a car accident, the damages recovered in the lawsuit may be reduced depending on the percentage of fault allocated to each. […]

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents can lead to devastating injuries due to the inherent vulnerability of individuals on foot. Unlike occupants of motor vehicles, pedestrians have little protection against the force of an impact, often resulting in severe trauma. Understanding the common injuries sustained in these accidents is necessary for victims seeking compensation and support. The consequences can be life-altering, affecting not only physical health but also emotional well-being and quality of life.

Critical Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, internal organ injuries, and severe fractures and crush injuries. TBIs can cause long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, and emotional disturbances, requiring extensive rehabilitation. Spinal cord damage can lead to partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifelong care and adaptations.

Internal organ injuries, […]

Parking Lot Pedestrian Accidents

Being hit by a car as a pedestrian can leave you seriously injured. You might expect this type of accident to happen in a crosswalk or other such setting. However, a parking lot can also be the setting of a harmful pedestrian accident.

Have you been injured as a pedestrian in a parking lot? You may be eligible for compensation if so. Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation.

The Hidden Dangers: Parking Lot Accident Statistics

A parking lot may not seem hazardous for a pedestrian. Unfortunately, parking lot accidents involving pedestrians are more common than you may realize. According to a report from a Bureau of Labor Statistics economist who studied the data, approximately 13% of all parking lot accidents involve pedestrian death. The National Safety Council has also tracked a fairly consistent rate of car accidents involving pedestrians in parking lots. […]

Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right of Way?

When you first learned to drive, you may have been told pedestrians have the right of way. While this is generally true, pedestrians don’t always have the right of way. Of course, drivers must always be aware of their surroundings, including looking for pedestrians, but pedestrians must also be aware of traffic lights, crosswalks, and oncoming traffic.

If you were involved in a pedestrian accident and are questioning who has the right of way, Munley Law is here to help.

When Do Pedestrians Have the Right of Way?

Under Pennsylvania law, there are a few scenarios where pedestrians always have the right of way. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of drivers and pedestrians to practice safety on the roadways and be mindful before walking into traffic.

Crosswalks Without Signals

If a pedestrian is at an unmarked crosswalk without traffic signals, […]

October is Pedestrian Safety Month

Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Observe Pedestrian Safety Month with Safety Reminders

This October, join Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys in celebrating the first annual Pedestrian Safety Month. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), created Pedestrian Safety Month to increase “awareness about pedestrian safety.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pedestrians face exceptional danger. In fact, the CDC reports that hospital emergency departments treat 137,000 injured pedestrians each year. Additionally, every 88 minutes, an American pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident.

In light of these dangers, the NHTSA’s goal is to remind drivers and walkers that staying safe is a shared responsibility.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we understand the dangers that pedestrians face. For that reason, […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns that Halloween is one of the deadliest days for pedestrians

As children head out in their Halloween costumes to trick-or-treat this Friday, parents should be aware of the dangers they face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. An estimated 41 million children will be out trick-or-treating in the United States this week. Young trick-or-treaters are often dressed in dark costumes and masks, they are excited and rushing, and may forget about safety when crossing streets or when walking near traffic.

A study by State Farm released in 2012, found an average of 5.5 pedestrian fatalities each year on Halloween, which is more than double the average on other days. The report found that a quarter of the accidents occurred between 6pm and 7pm and over 60% between the prime trick-or-treating hours of 5pm to 9pm. […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer says pedestrian deaths and injuries are on the rise

With the weather beginning to warm, traveling by foot might be might seem like a healthier option, but it’s not always safer. The World Health Organization reported that more than 270,000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world’s roads each year. Globally, pedestrians constitute 22% of all road deaths, and in some countries this proportion is as high as two thirds.

According to a recent study by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, distracted driving is increasingly causing fatalities among pedestrians. The study looked at accident records between 2005 and 2010; focusing on bicycle and pedestrian accidents where the driver was using a cellphone, GPS system, radio, or another distracting device before the accident. It was found that the number of fatal pedestrian accidents per 10 billion vehicle miles traveled increased from 18.7 to 24.6 during this time period.

The results of the study made it clear that distracted driving is claiming an increasing number of pedestrians, […]

PA Pedestrian Accidents Rise At Christmas

Shorter days and extended holiday hours can be a deadly mix for Pennsylvania shoppers.

Far more pedestrians are struck and killed by vehicles at night – almost 71 percent – than during daylight hours, according to crash statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

And most of these deaths occur in areas other than intersections, such as mid-block crossings, driveways, and parking lots.

The danger is especially great in the Christmas season when excited shoppers are rushing to and from malls and downtown business districts with armloads of packages and children in tow.

A total of 1,539 pedestrians were injured when hit by a vehicle in non-daylight hours, according to the 2011 Pennsylvania DOT Crash Facts and Statistics – and 106 pedestrians were killed.

If you or a loved one is hurt in a pedestrian accident in Pennsylvania, […]

PA Driver Tries to Run Down Pedestrians

No one injured after man drives on sidewalk targeting pedestrians

Virginia Accident Leaves One Dead

A Sunday morning crash on I-81 near Abingdon, Virginia has left a 23-year-old college student dead.  The driver of the 2005 Jeep Wrangler left the northbound lanes of the highway, struck several trees then overturned. The deceased was the only person involved in the single-vehicle accident.

Fleeing Man Causes Fatal Accident in West Virginia

Deputies in Loudon County, Virginia attempted to pull over a speeding driver before he fled the scene and raced across the state line into West Virginia causing a multi-car accident leaving one person dead and five others injured, including the fleeing driver.  The DC man was driving a stolen Toyota 4Runner on Wednesday morning around 3am when he crossed into oncoming traffic and sideswiped a car carrying three people, then careened sideways and struck a van head-on that was carrying two.  […]