Munley Gets 2nd Highest Settlement in PA

We are pleased to announce that a case we settled earlier this year was one of the top 25 highest settlements in the U.S. in 2015, according to a list published annually by the National Law Journal. It was also the 2nd highest settlement reached in Pennsylvania this year. Check out the digital version here.

In May, 2015, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys reached a $3.97 million settlement on behalf of the family of Mark Kowalski, a truck driver who was killed in a tractor trailer accident in 2011. It is our hope that this settlement will bring some security to the Kowalski family, and will put pressure on the trucking industry to  improve safety measures to prevent such accidents.

Mr. Kowalski, from New York state, was traveling east on I-80 in Columbia County, PA, when he encountered defendant Patrick Webb, a Texas truck driver who was also traveling eastbound on I-80. Webb was driving for PBM, a Texas trucking company. The trailer he was hauling was leased to PBM by Republic National Industries of Texas.

Webb lost control of his rig on the snow-covered highway, and his tractor slid off of the road and into the median. Kowalski, who was traveling behind Webb, was unable to avoid a collision with Webb’s trailer which was blocking the eastbound lanes of traffic. Upon impact, Kowalski’s cab detached from his trailer and broke through a guardrail. He suffered severe injuries which ultimately resulted in death. Pennsylvania state police issued Webb six different citations including exceeding his hours of service and falsifying his log books.

Dan Munley, who worked on the case, noted, “Marion and I were honored to represent the Kowalski family. While no amount of money can truly replace the loss of their husband and father, we hope that this settlement will provide the family with some level of security.”

Dan and Marion Munley, backed by our hardworking team of legal staff, are clear leaders in the field of truck accident litigation. It is our mission to improve safety on our nation’s highways, and to hold responsible those who threaten the safety of the driving public. If you or a loved one have been in an accident, or if you have questions, contact us for a free consultation.