Hazleton 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Our Hazleton 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Will Fight For You

Being struck by an 18-wheeler truck is one of the most terrifying things that can happen on the road. You may be left with life-changing injuries and mounting medical bills. Your future – and your family’s future – may suddenly seem uncertain. A truck accident lawsuit is a legal action you can take to protect your rights and ensure you receive the full compensation you need to rebuild your life.

If you or your family member were involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler in Hazleton, you need a Hazleton 18 wheeler accident lawyer you can trust to act quickly and fight relentlessly until you get the recovery you need. Only a law firm with demonstrated experience winning truck accident settlements should be entrusted with this critical event in your life.

The Hazleton truck accident lawyers at Munley Law have devoted decades of practice to pursuing and winning truck accident cases in Luzerne County and all over Pennsylvania. We have won hundreds of truck accident injury cases like yours, and have earned national recognition for our work in this area of the law. When you need a truck accident lawyer in Hazleton, Munley Law should be your first call. We will review your case at no charge and advise you how to move forward. Call today for a free consultation.

What Are the Causes of Hazleton 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents?

Hazleton is located in the heart of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial activity. Numerous warehouses and distribution centers are located here.  Heavy truck traffic on I-80, I-81, I-84, I-380 as well as PA-476 and Routes 309 and 93 passes through or near the Hazleton metro area. All of this economic activity also means more truck traffic, which can lead to more truck accidents.

With decades of truck accident and 18-wheeler crash experience, the truck accident attorneys at Munley Law have investigated all kinds of events that cause a serious crash. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver Distraction – Driver distraction is among the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents, and truck drivers are not immune. Truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel. They might be distracted by mobile devices, entertainment, navigation systems, food or drink, or other passengers in the cabin. Distraction can cause a driver to veer into another lane without warning, drift across the median into oncoming traffic, or fail to brake for slowed traffic ahead.
• Driving too Fast for Conditions – Speeding not only increases the likelihood of a highway crash, it also multiplies the destructiveness of a crash. Even a difference of 10-20 miles per hour in speed can be the difference between life and death. Speed is especially dangerous in poor weather conditions. Driving too fast for weather conditions – such as snow, ice, heavy rain, or fog – can result in a devastating multi-vehicle pileup on the highway.
• Drowsy Driving – Many truck drivers suffer from sleep apnea due to their working conditions and lifestyle. Sleep apnea is a disorder that impairs the quality of one’s sleep and can lead to excessive drowsiness or nodding off during the waking hours. Another cause of driver fatigue is driving in excess of the maximum hours of service. Truck drivers face immense pressure to log miles on the road and make their deliveries on time in order to get paid. Sometimes, delays due to weather or traffic conditions can put pressure on drivers to falsify their logbooks and continue driving longer than the federally mandated limits without a break.
• Mechanical Failure – Sometimes, a truck crash is caused not by driver error but by failure to properly maintain and inspect the truck itself. Sometimes, a truck that becomes disabled in the road can become a hazard to other drivers and cause a wreck if proper precautions and emergency protocols are not followed.

The truck accident team at Munley Law will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine the exact cause. Proving the cause of your crash is necessary to prove negligence and damages. We will look specifically to see whether any violations of state law and federal trucking regulations contributed to your crash. For example, we will review the trucking company’s accident records and internal safety policy enforcement to see whether there was a pattern of dangerous activity. Likewise, we will look at the driver’s log books, driving history, and cell phone records.

Who Is At Fault for an 18-Wheeler Crash in Hazleton?

Determining the cause of your truck accident will allow us to identify who is at fault. Truck accidents are complicated because even when the cause of the wreck is clear, there may be multiple defendants including both corporate entities and individual people, each with their own insurance carrier. We will work with law enforcement and our own investigative team to identify all defendants in your case and see that they are held accountable for their role in causing your injuries.

Possible defendants might include: the driver of the truck that hit you, the trucking company the driver worked for, the individuals or company responsible for inspecting and maintaining the truck, and any third party brokers involved.

Injuries in an 18-Wheeler Crash

Highway accidents involving large vehicles like 18-wheelers can result in life-threatening injuries. These injuries not only cause you pain and disrupt your life, but they also can require expensive surgeries, prolonged treatment, and time missed from work. You’ve certainly suffered enough through no fault of your own, and shouldn’t have to pay the costs of these injuries yourself. In order to receive maximum compensation, it is important to have a lawyer who understands the full extent of your injuries and how they may continue to affect your life in the future.

Common truck accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries (or TBI)  are some of the most common and serious injuries people sustain in a truck crash. Traumatic brain injuries can be open wounds such as a skull fracture or closed injuries like a concussion or brain bleed. Brain injuries can lead to life-threatening complications or death if they are not treated right away. With treatment, they can take months or years to fully heal, or they may require in-home care or full-time assistance.
• Neck and back injuries – The impact of a truck crash can cause neck and back injuries ranging from soft tissue damage to herniated discs or even spinal cord damage. Serious neck and back injuries can require spinal surgery or may result in paralysis.
• Broken bones – Broken bones can require expensive surgeries and can also cause damage to internal organs. Severe injuries to limbs can also result in amputation which will change your ability to work, care for yourself and your family, get around your home, and enjoy your life.
• Lacerations, burns, and scarring – While many cuts and burns will heal with time, some will leave permanent scars. Serious burns and lacerations can require skin grafts and surgeries as well.
• Wrongful death – In the worst cases, a Hazleton truck accident can result in wrongful death.

Your Hazleton truck accident attorney at Munley Law will work together with a physician and other medical and economic experts to calculate not only the full cost of your medical treatment but also the many ways that your injuries will affect your life in the future.

Hazleton 18-Wheeler Truck Accident FAQs

How Do I Choose the Best Truck Accident Lawyer in Hazleton?

Truck accidents are like no other personal injury case. Cases involving commercial trucks and 18-wheelers require the expertise of an experienced law firm whose practice is dedicated to this specific type of case. While many law firms claim to handle truck cases, only a small number of firms have the experience and results to back them up. Even fewer law firms can claim to be nationally recognized leaders in the industry, whom other attorneys look to learn about this type of case.

That is what sets Munley Law apart. Our truck accident lawyers not only belong to the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation group, but two of our attorneys have also served as Chair of the group. Our lawyers were among the first in Pennsylvania to become board certified in truck accident law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and they serve on the Board of Regents for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Our truck accident lawyers have also been named to the Trucking Lawyers Top Ten by the National Trial Lawyers, and have been certified by the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.

When choosing a Hazleton truck accident lawyer, it is also important to consider how the attorney will charge for their services. At Munley Law, we do not collect a fee unless we win your case. That contingent fee is a standard percentage of the settlement, plus any applicable costs associated with pursuing your case. If you hire us to represent you and we are unsuccessful in getting you the compensation you need, you owe us nothing, regardless of how much time or money we invested in your case.

All of this information is important. But the best way to decide who will represent you in your truck accident lawsuit is to call and speak with an attorney for yourself. During that conversation, you can get answers to your questions and learn about what you can expect from your attorney.

What Is the Black Box in a Truck Accident?

After a major transportation accident like a plane crash or train derailment, you might hear mention of the “black box” on board the vehicle that crashed. The black box is often used to provide investigators with information about how the crash happened. Commercial trucks are also equipped with a black box. The black box is also called an event data recorder (EDR) or onboard computer. The black box captures all kinds of data regarding the operation of the truck prior to and at the time of a crash event. This information can include the truck’s speed, whether the brakes were applied and when, the truck’s GPS location, how long the truck had been traveling, and more.

This information can be critical to your case, so it is important that you have an attorney who knows how to preserve, obtain, and analyze this data. Trucking companies don’t always hand over this information voluntarily, and some data recorders only save data for a limited amount of time. so your lawyer may need to obtain a court order to preserve the evidence before it can be deleted.

Can Truck Drivers Sue for a Truck Accident in Hazleton?

As experienced truck accident attorneys, we know that truck drivers have dangerous jobs. We also know that not every truck crash is the trucker’s fault. Many times, truck drivers are struck by other trucks, or lose control of their truck when another driver causes an accident. Members of the general public can cause a truck crash by driving while distracted, cutting off a large truck in traffic, or failing to give these vehicles appropriate space. We have represented many truck drivers who were hurt in an accident on the job.

If you or your family member were injured in a crash while working as a truck driver, and the accident was not your fault,  the truck accident attorneys at Munley Law can help you obtain your workers’ comp benefits and pursue a third-party case against the at-fault parties.

How Much is My Truck Accident Case Worth?

Damages in a truck accident case fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages include things like your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost earning power, and lost wages. Non-economic damages include mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. Your truck accident lawsuit will seek compensation for both of these types of damages.

The amount of compensation you receive will depend on factors specific to your case. This is one reason you should be skeptical about any lawyer who claims to be able to secure a specific amount of money for you without knowing the details of your case. Factors that will affect your compensation include the extent and severity of your injuries, your projected recovery time, your average income, and the specific ways that your accident has affected and will continue to affect your life. Another factor that will impact the amount of compensation you can receive is the available insurance coverage held by the parties in your case.

Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?

If you or someone in your family were injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, a truck accident lawsuit is often the only path to getting the full amount of compensation you need to make a full recovery.

Truck accident lawyers do more than represent you in court. Your truck accident attorney will perform a full investigation of your crash, work with medical experts, obtain critical evidence, negotiate with the insurance companies, and prepare your case for trial. Your legal team will also serve as your resource during the entire process to ensure you get the treatment and the answers you need all along the way.

If you’re unsure whether you have a case, a free consultation with a truck accident attorney is a great way to find out.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of injury. This means that any lawsuits brought after the two-year deadline has passed will be barred from going forward. We always urge people to contact a lawyer about a potential personal injury case as soon as possible because it is never too early to speak with an attorney, and a lot of important steps must be taken before a lawsuit can be filed. Nowhere is this more true than in a truck accident case. With a case involving an 18-wheeler truck, time is of the essence. These cases often involve commercial entities that will have their own defense lawyers deployed on the day of the accident. Important pieces of evidence can be lost or destroyed without a court order to preserve them. For these reasons, it is in your best interest to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

If you were involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler in Hazleton, turn to the law firm that has experience in handling trucking accident cases. For more than 60 years, Munley Law’s Hazleton 18 wheeler accident lawyers have been fighting for the rights of injury victims. We understand the complexities of these cases and will work hard to fight for justice. Call, chat, or send an email today to schedule a free consultation.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

197 N Cedar St.
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 536-9498