Fatal tractor trailer crash on I-81 in Lackawanna County

A Dickson City man and a Philadelphia woman were killed in a crash with a tractor trailer on I-81 in Moosic, PA at around 11:20 PM Wednesday, October 7, 2020. The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that fire departments from Moosic, Avoca and Taylor responded to the crash scene, along with multiple EMS units. The highway was shut down for hours overnight before reopening around 7AM on Thursday morning. Initial reports say that the tractor-trailer struck the victims’ vehicle while attempting to change lanes; both vehicles then went over an embankment and the car was crushed under the truck. The truck driver was not seriously injured.

Additional investigation will determine the exact cause of the crash. The days following a tractor-trailer crash will be critical in collecting and preserving evidence in order to determine if negligence contributed to this tragedy. Most tractor-trailers are equipped with black box data recorders containing all kinds of information about the truck and driver in the moments leading up to the crash. […]

Mobile apps for truckers

Technology and the modern truck driver

When Apple first introduced the iPhone in 2007, we could not have predicted how significantly smartphones would change our world. Of course as the technology has improved over the years, so has the number and quality of mobile applications (“apps”) on both iOS (AppStore) and Android (Google Play) operations systems. But did you know there exists a large subculture of apps for truckers? Below, we’ll outline some of the popular apps designed specifically for truckers.

Note: Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys does not encourage truck drivers to use their smartphones while they are driving – there is no room for error on the road and distractions already abound. It is a way to endanger your life and the lives of others.  If you do use one or more of the apps described here, please be sure to access them before you hit the road or at a rest stop – […]

Self-driving trucks: what does the future look like?

The (latest) future of self-driving trucks

As autonomous vehicles are increasingly produced, a more daring venture on the horizon is the advent of self-driving trucks. News of these developments started several years ago – what progress has the industry made since then? And, what kind of impact could self-driving trucks have on road and driver safety, as well as potential legal ramifications?

Today, autonomous driving technology is one of the most discussed new developments on the horizon.  Over the past five years, many companies have been developing self-driving technology both for cars and for long-haul trucks. Our truck accident lawyer takes a look at self-driving vehicles and what they could mean for the future of transit, road safety, traffic incidents and indeed the wider economy.

What is “autonomy”?

Before we go any further, it is important to demonstrate exactly what is meant by “autonomy.”

The industry has adopted the following levels of increasing technological complexity, […]

Truck crash on I-81 claims two lives

Yesterday, a tractor trailer crash on Interstate 81 killed two people and seriously injured two others.

A family from Canada was traveling on I-81 northbound in Scott Township near the Fleetville exit.  They were stopped in traffic when they were rear-ended by a tractor trailer operated by JVM Transport. The truck crash killed the 45-year-old father and 10-year-old son; the mother and daughter were taken to the hospital in Lackawanna County. The driver of another tractor trailer that had been stopped in traffic was also taken to the hospital.

Via WNEP: “According to investigators, the big rig did not stop in time and hit the car which was stopped in traffic from an earlier crash.” 

Dan Munley, former chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group, states that  “we have handled other cases in our area where a tractor trailer failed to stop in traffic and either killed or seriously injured another driver. […]

Truck driver shortage raises safety questions

Why is there a truck driver shortage?

The trucking industry is in need of truck drivers. The shortage of truck drivers in the past 15 years has been a burden on the trucking industry.  The shortage of drivers has seen delayed deliveries, and higher prices on goods all over the U.S.  According to the American Trucking Association, more than 70 percent of goods are moved by the trucking industry, and more than 900,000 new truckers are needed to pick up delivery demands.  The shortage of truckers has forced some major retailers to pay higher prices on shipments so that they may arrive on time.

This desperate time has lead the trucking industry to increase pay for truckers by 15 percent just to attract new entrants in the industry.  They are also offering sign-on bonuses to new truckers, and major pay raises.  Despite the enticing higher wages, […]