What To Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident

After a hit-and-run accident, take action

The nation’s best personal injury lawyers explain what to do after a hit-and-run automobile crash

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), there are 682,000 hit-and-run accidents in the United States every year. The moments after a serious accident are the most frightening. The crash scene may be chaotic and you may feel confused, stressed, and seriously in pain. Additionally, these feelings will likely be amplified if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident. However, taking a moment to learn how to proceed when the driver who hit you flees the scene of the collision can make a world of difference. Accordingly, our award-winning car and truck crash lawyers  explain what to do and what not to do after a hit-and-run accident.

If you’d like to discuss the details of your accident, schedule a free consultation with a leading personal injury lawyer from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today. […]

Avoiding Fall Accidents on Pennsylvania Roads

Don’t become another Pennsylvania crash victim statistic

Avoid fall accidents and collisions with these tips from the nation’s leading car crash lawyers

There is no time quite like autumn in Pennsylvania. The leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. The weather cools. And the smell of wood fireplaces fills the air. However, many Pennsylvanians do not realize that the fall months are among the most dangerous for drivers. In fact, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation‘s (PennDOT) annual Crash Facts & Statistics report, there are more crashes in the fall than any other season. Protect yourself and your family from fall accidents by following these tips from our expert car crash lawyers.

Slow down and be extra careful on leaf-covered roads

As Pennsylvania trees become bare, their leaves fall to the ground and cover the roads and highways. […]

Going on a Labor Day Road Trip?

Considered the season’s last hurrah before autumn sets in, the Labor Day long weekend is almost here.  It’s the perfect time to get one last taste of summer.  Americans will be hitting the road in great numbers.  Now, that some of the COVID-19 restrictions have eased in our area, people are looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends they haven’t seen in a while.   According to Travel Agent Central,  72 percent of traveling Americans prefer to to drive this year.

Labor Day is the 5th Deadliest Holiday

Unfortunately holidays also see an uptick in car crashes resulting in serious injury and death.  Almost 400 people died last year in car accidents during the Labor Day holiday period.  The car has the highest fatality rate per passenger of any major form of transportation. There are over 45,000 injuries that require medical attention from car crashes during the holiday period.   […]

Pandemic closures linked to bad driving among teens, adults

Coronavirus pandemic-related closures leave some drivers out of practice, encourage recklessness in others

New analysis from AAA suggests that the coronavirus pandemic may have something to do with worsening driving skills, particularly among young people.

Good driving is all about developing good habits, and that takes practice. For a young driver still developing those habits, two or three months without regular practice can stall their progress. That means that when they get behind the wheel again for the first time in months, it’s likely that their skills will be a bit rusty and they’ll be more prone to accidents. This is especially important for parents to remember as many pandemic-related restrictions are lifting just as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers are beginning.

Historically, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the worst time of year for fatal auto accidents involving teen drivers. […]

Failing to Signal Causes Countless Auto Accidents

Over 750 billion times per year, drivers fail to properly use their turn signals. According to a study by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), drivers fail to signal when switching lanes 48% of the time and fail to signal when turning 25% of the time. Motorists also improperly leave their blinkers on long after changing lanes or use the wrong turn signal an additional 10% of the time

Why Are Turn Signals So Important?

The SAE study demonstrates a need for more research to understand and combat the problem of turn signal neglect. But why is it so important that drivers use turn signals when changing lanes, merging, parking, exiting, and turning?

Turn signals are more than just a courtesy to other drivers on the road. Turn signals communicate a driver’s intentions and act as an important warning sign for other motorists. Highway drivers who observe another vehicle’s turn signal are more likely to slow down, […]

Decrease in traffic leads to increase in speed, reckless driving

Nationwide, stay-at-home orders have left typically congested roads and highways with much less traffic. Unfortunately, some drivers have taken the empty road as an invitation to disregard traffic laws. Some states report seeing increased numbers of people pulled over for speeding, and some have even reported increases in traffic fatalities.

With shelter at home rules in place throughout much of the country, fewer people are out on the roads.  Many drivers see the open roads as an opportunity to surpass speed limits without impunity.  They feel like they are alone on the roads.  But in many states, police have issued record numbers of speeding tickets over the past 2 months. Tickets are being issued on both freeways and local roads.

The increased number of speeders and the excessive speed that these cars are traveling at, appear to be directly contributing to increased numbers of accidents and fatalities.  […]

Property Damage from a Car Accident

Property Damage Claims After a Car Accident

One of the most common questions people ask after a car accident is: How can I get my vehicle fixed? Who is responsible for repairs? Do I need a lawyer?

If your vehicle sustained damage in the accident but you were not physically hurt, then, fortunately, you won’t need a personal injury lawyer.  Property damage claims are usually faster and easier to resolve than personal injury claims. In fact, most property damage claims can be handled without an attorney.  But we understand that getting your vehicle up and running again can be very stressful. Here’s what you can expect with a property damage-only claim.

Vehicle property damage claims may include:

• Repairs to your vehicle
• The market value of your vehicle if it is a total loss (totaled)
• Related costs such as vehicle rental and towing

In most cases, […]

What is “PIP” coverage on my auto insurance policy?

One of the questions we hear most frequently as personal injury lawyers is “Who is responsible for my medical bills if I’m hurt in a car accident?” In Pennsylvania, you would first go through your Personal Injury Protection or “PIP” coverage. Once you’ve exhausted your PIP, you would then turn to your own health insurance for the remaining medical costs.

What is PIP coverage?

Personal injury protection or “PIP” pays for your own medical costs when you’ve been hurt in an accident. This is true no matter who is at fault for the crash. This is why PIP is sometimes referred to as “no fault” insurance. Your PIP also covers you when you’re a passenger hurt in someone else’s vehicle, or if you’re hit as a pedestrian or on a bicycle.

Do I have PIP coverage on my policy? […]

Do I need to purchase rental car insurance?

If you’re traveling this summer, you may decide to rent a car for a road trip, or just to explore your vacation destination. When you rent a car, you have the option to purchase rental car insurance at the counter. Is this a good idea, or a waste of money? The answer is that it most likely depends on what kind of insurance you already have, if any. Some drivers absolutely need to buy rental insurance, but others don’t. And chances are you probably don’t need all of the coverages they offer.

Let us explain…

The different rental car insurance options

Liability coverage – Also known as “supplemental liability coverage.” Liability coverage is required in all states. This is the coverage that applies if you hurt someone or damage their property in an auto accident. If you have sufficient liability coverage on your personal auto policy, […]

Phone-related driver distraction still on the rise

Cellphones have been a root cause of distracted driving since they first became popular in the 1990s.  However, cellphone manipulation while driving continues to change.  A 2018 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Virginia found that drivers were 57% more likely to be found manipulating or using a cellphone than a survey conducted in 2014.  According to the IIHS, cellphone use was a contributing factor in over 800 crash deaths in the United States in 2017 alone.  But while drivers were less likely to be seen simply holding or talking on a cell phone in 2018 than 2014, they were more likely to be observed actually manipulating their phones.

                In 2014, only
2.4% of Virginia drivers were observed using their cellphones.  However, in 2018 this number rose to
3.4%.  This is compared to the 4.1% of
Virginia drivers observed talking on a cellphone in 2014, […]

What Happens if You Get in an Accident in the Company Vehicle?

Driving a company car can be both a benefit and a burden. The perks include not paying for gas out of your own pocket and not worrying about putting miles or wear and tear on your own car. But what happens when you are involved in an accident in a company car? Understanding who is at fault and must pay can be confusing.

What Should I Do After an Accident in A Company Vehicle?

If you are involved in an accident in a company car, your employer should have purchased commercial auto insurance, and the commercial auto insurance provider will usually pay any valid claims related to the accident, as long as the employee was using the vehicle properly at the time of the accident. Most of the time, your employer will deal with the insurance company directly, though you may have to answer questions or provide other evidence upon request of the insurance company. […]

Don’t rely on autopilot: Car safety tech still flawed, inconsistent

IIHS report on driver-assistance technology shows its flaws

New report from IIHS shows driver assist technology is still flawed and is no substitute for a fully attentive human driver. If you’re not paying attention, driver assist systems can even land you in a crash.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, known for its extensive crash testing and safety ratings, investigated just how reliable driver assistance technology is. Their findings varied by brand. But, the overall conclusion was that autonomous vehicle technology has a long way to go before human drivers can feel comfortable giving up the steering wheel.

The 2017 BMW 5-series, 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class,  2018 Tesla Model 3 and 2016 Model S, and 2018 Volvo S90 were evaluated.

What is driver assistance technology?

Driver assistance technology refers to the features in a car designed to help prevent collisions. […]

Fatal Accidents Pose Questions for Regulators of Self-Driving Tech

Pedestrian Killed by Self-Driving Uber

On March 18, a pedestrian was struck and killed by an autonomous car operated by Uber as she was crossing the street. The Uber, a Volvo XC90, hit and killed the 49-year-old woman despite the car’s being equipped with a variety of sensors, including Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) which is designed to create 3D, 360-degree images of the car’s surroundings and radar that can see objects in the light or dark.  In addition, there was a human safety driver at the wheel, although a video of the accident shows that the driver was not paying attention. Furthermore, the driver was not holding his hands above the steering wheel, as most backup drivers are taught.  However, he had no signs of impairment.  Nor did weather appear to play a role.  The vehicle was moving at 40 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of the Uber accident.  […]

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. […]

Could Your Prescription Medicine Affect Your Driving?

Prescription Drugs and Driving Can Be a Fatal Mix

You know that alcohol and illegal drugs can impair driving ability and cause dangerous accidents. But what about your prescription medication? Many people don’t realize that even medicine that is prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed can affect your driving.

It is an issue that concerns our car accident lawyers, as well as many lawmakers. The penalty for driving under the influence of medication carries the same penalty as a DUI in certain states. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that drugs were present in 43% of fatally injured drivers in 2017, more frequently than alcohol was present. This applies to some legal prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as illegal drugs.

Drugged driving is more complex than driving under the influence of alcohol for several reasons. […]

Are you a distracted driver?

Distracted driving  leads to crashes

Statistics show that traffic fatalities are on the rise. Distracted driving is a contributing factor in many car and truck accidents. In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 injured in vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the Department of Transportation. A driver who texts or uses another device while driving is making a dangerous, possibly deadly choice.

Are you a distracted driver?

If you don’t text and drive, that’s great! That one simple choice can help make the roads safer for everyone and keep you out of harm’s way. But, what about other distractions?

Distracted driving is considered any activity that takes attention away from driving. This not only includes texting or talking on your phone but using other devices as well, such as programming your GPS while driving or browsing through radio stations. […]

The race for driverless truck and car technology

Driverless vehicles are being tested on roads right now. The LA Times published that in a race to embrace driverless vehicles, Washington has cleared away regulatory hurdles for automakers and brushed aside consumer warnings about the risk of crashes and hacking. The NHTSA earlier this year published a voluntary policy on automated driving systems and said it is working on more policies. Basically, the industry is left to regulate itself.

Tesla’s new electric semi-truck unveiled

Last week Tesla introduced a fully electric semi-truck. The truck is equipped with Enhanced Autopilot, the second generation of Tesla’s semi-autonomous technology. It’s equipped with automatic braking, lane-keeping, and lane departure warnings.

Our Scranton truck accident lawyer is concerned that enough testing is done on autonomous semi-trucks before they are introduced onto public roadways. While the electric truck business is still in the early stages and won’t be prevalent for years, […]

Your Chances of Hitting a Deer in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Drivers’ Chances of Hitting a Deer Increase This Year

For the second year in a row, PA is the #3 state in the U.S. for deer collisions. Pennsylvania drivers’ chances of hitting a deer? 1 in 63. That’s up 6% from last year.

The annual report from State Farm looks at auto insurance claims data and Federal Highway Administration data to calculate drivers’ risk of a car accident involving a deer, elk, or moose in the road. It will come as no surprise to Pennsylvania drivers that PA has topped the list for years.

Additional risk factors

October marks the beginning of deer mating season, which continues through December. During this time, the risk of hitting a deer doubles.

The hours around dawn and dusk are the most dangerous times of day for deer collisions. […]

Apple’s iOS 11 Includes “Do Not Disturb While Driving”

New iPhone feature “Do Not Disturb” helps you be a better driver

This week at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Apple introduced its new operating system, iOS 11, available this fall. Among the many new features, there’s one we’re particularly excited about. The “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature can detect when you’re driving, and silence notifications and disable certain apps that may tempt you to look at your phone.

Here’s how it works

When the phone is connected to your car via Bluetooth or a cable, it detects that the car is moving, turning on the feature will mute notifications, texts, and updates and lock your phone screen to deter you from using unnecessary apps behind the wheel. If you still have anxiety about letting calls and messages go unanswered, you can set up an auto-reply for your favorite contacts. […]

Tips and Reminders for Summer Driving

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer driving and road trip season. 

As you plan your summer travels, bear in mind that the summer is the most dangerous time of year to drive. Teenagers face an increased crash risk in the summer months, also known as the “100 deadliest days” beginning after prom and graduation. The overall highway fatality rate peaks in the summer as well. We’ve gathered some essential safety tips and reminders to help keep your summer travels accident-free.

Summer months are the most dangerous for driving

A study by Michelin revealed that most drivers worry less about car accidents in the warmer months. In winter, adverse weather conditions draw our attention to the possibility of a crash. But in the summer, clear road conditions and pleasant weather can lull drivers into a false sense of security. Many people are likely to be more relaxed, […]