Munley Law Blog

Can a Passenger Sue Both Drivers After a Car Accident?

You can file an insurance claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and related losses when you’re hurt in a car accident while driving in Pennsylvania. The exact type of claim you file depends on your insurance coverage.

However, you don’t have to be driving to be hurt in an auto wreck. Maybe you’ve been injured as a passenger in a car accident.

This can already complicate matters, as you might not know whose insurance company (if any) is responsible for compensating you now. The case may be even more complex if multiple drivers contributed to the accident.

Determining liability is very important in these cases. For a passenger to receive the full amount of compensation available, they may need to file claims with multiple insurance companies or liable parties.

We at Munley Law can help in this unique situation. […]

General Attorney vs Trial Attorney: What’s the Difference?

Not all attorneys are the same. You might already understand that some types of attorneys practice law differently from others. For example, district attorneys prosecute those accused of crimes in criminal cases while defense lawyers represent them.

However, it’s also important to understand the difference between general and trial lawyers. This is particularly true if you have a personal injury case or similar matter that may go to trial. Hiring a lawyer with courtroom experience could provide you with a significant advantage during settlement negotiations.

At Munley Law, we’d be happy to discuss our trial experience when reviewing your personal injury case. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Why a Trial Attorney Makes a Difference in Personal Injury Cases

A trial attorney can play a significant role in the outcome of your case should you ever file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. […]

What Does a Wrongful Death Lawyer Do?

When faced with the tragic loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, understanding how a wrongful death lawyer can help becomes essential. These legal professionals specialize in wrongful death claims, guiding families through the legal process while advocating for their rights.

A wrongful death attorney helps families file their claims and build strong cases. They work diligently to gather evidence and establish who was at fault. They also fight to secure fair compensation for the family’s devastating losses. The process involves a thorough investigation of the death. They often bring in expert witnesses to strengthen the case. Throughout the process, they handle all negotiations with insurance companies.

Each element plays a vital role in building a compelling case to ultimately hold the responsible parties accountable. With a focus on both legal expertise and compassionate support, a wrongful death lawyer is dedicated to helping families find justice during one of the most challenging times in their lives. […]

How to Tell If a New Tire Is Defective

Tires play a critical role in your safety when driving a vehicle. A defective tire can suddenly fail or blow out at high speeds, causing your vehicle to spin out of control, roll over, or veer into oncoming traffic. Tread separation or sidewall collapse can lead to immediate loss of steering control, resulting in multi-car collisions, running off the road, or crashing into fixed objects.

Knowing how to spot the signs of a defective tire is important. This guide will explain what you need to know about this topic. If you believe you were injured because of a tire defect, contact the product liability lawyers at Munley Law for your free consultation today.

Visual Indicators of a Defective Tire

A quick visual inspection can often tell you whether a tire is defective. Warning signs to be on the lookout for include:

• Unusual tire tread patterns
• Tread separation, […]

Who Can I Sue After a Ruptured Gas Line Causes an Explosion?

A natural gas explosion can leave victims with severe burns and other such injuries. You may deserve compensation for the cost of medical treatment and related damages if you’ve been injured in such an accident.

However, you might not know how to recover compensation after being injured, perhaps because you don’t know who you can sue when a gas explosion occurs. At Munley Law, our gas explosion attorneys can provide answers about your legal rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Potential Parties Liable in Gas Line Explosion Cases

Seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other such losses from gas explosion injuries generally involves filing a personal injury claim with the liable party’s insurer. In some cases, compensation can be sought from other liable parties. Potentially liable parties when gas explosion accidents occur include:

• The local gas company
• Property owners and managers, […]

Who Gets the Money in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

If you have recently lost a loved one in a tragic accident, you may be wondering how a wrongful death claim works and who gets the money. Wrongful death settlements are paid to the family members following a victim’s death due to someone else’s negligence. When an immediate family member, like a parent or spouse, dies, there is a huge financial and emotional impact. Wrongful death suits work to provide financial support to those who were dependent on the decedent.

Understanding Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Wrongful death claims are a type of civil lawsuit where a deceased person’s surviving family members can recover damages if their loved one’s death was the result of another person’s wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence, or negligence. While the most common wrongful death lawsuits are related to car accidents and motorcycle accidents, many other fatal accidents are appropriate for this type of lawsuit, […]

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. […]

The Importance of Gathering Evidence in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

When filing a personal injury lawsuit after an accident, gathering comprehensive evidence strengthens your position and can significantly impact your compensation. While collecting evidence might seem overwhelming, an experienced personal injury attorney can guide this process, ensuring no critical details are overlooked. Multiple expert opinions and diverse forms of evidence enhance your case and help establish the facts.

Key Types of Evidence and How Your Attorney Can Help

Photographs and Video Evidence

Visual documentation from cell phones or cameras often provides the clearest evidence of liability. These raw, unaltered records help insurance adjusters and attorneys understand what occurred during the incident. Your attorney will know what details need photographic documentation. The immediate accident damage provides only part of the story. Environmental conditions can impact liability significantly. Road conditions may have contributed to the incident. Weather circumstances often play a role. […]

Personal Injury Claims: What to Expect

Getting hurt in an accident can turn your life upside down. Understanding how personal injury claims work will help you get the compensation you deserve while focusing on your recovery.

How Long Do Most Personal Injury Claims Take?

Most personal injury claims must be filed within the local statute of limitations, and take four to 12 months to wrap up, though some cases might need more time. The timeline depends on how serious your injuries are, who was at fault, and whether the insurance company works with you or against you. If your case goes to court, it could take longer than if you settle outside court.

It’s smart to wait until your doctors say you’re as recovered as you’re going to get before settling. This way, you’ll know what your long-term medical needs and costs will be.

How Does the Claims Process Work? […]

Can I Sue the Insurance Company for Delaying a Claim?

Accepting the first settlement offer an insurer makes when filing a personal injury claim, auto claim, or other such claim is often unwise. An insurance company’s initial settlement offer may not represent the full amount of compensation you deserve.

However, once you do accept a settlement amount, you may expect the insurance company to issue a check relatively shortly after. Perhaps this hasn’t happened.

An insurance company may not be engaging in good faith practices if it is delaying payment unreasonably. Speak with our Pennsylvania bad faith insurance lawyers at Munley Law to learn more about your options in these circumstances.

Understanding Insurance Bad Faith

There is an implied contract between an insurer and a client. Per this implied contract, the insurance company theoretically agrees to operate in good faith, meaning it will honor its obligations when doing so is necessary. […]

What Are Typical Pain and Suffering Awards? 

What Is a Typical Amount of Pain and Suffering?

Understanding pain and suffering awards is essential for victims seeking compensation. Pain and suffering involve physical discomfort and emotional distress resulting from an injury. These awards can vary based on the severity of the injuries, as well as their impact on the victim’s quality of life. Here, we’ll explore the factors that influence typical pain and suffering awards, how to calculate them, and the evidence needed to prove your case.

How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth?

In personal injury cases, physical pain can include everything from mild discomfort to severe agony, while emotional distress refers to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. In these types of claims, it’s important to differentiate between short-term and long-term suffering.

Short-term suffering represents pain experienced immediately after an injury that may resolve over time. […]

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury can dramatically transform a person’s life in an instant. If you’ve sustained a catastrophic injury because someone else was negligent, you may deserve compensation for the long-term losses and difficulties resulting from your injuries.

First, it’s important to understand what such injuries are and how they can affect your life. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury due to another’s negligence, contact the catastrophic injury lawyers at Munley Law today for a free consultation.

Defining Catastrophic Injuries

What is a catastrophic injury? To some extent, that can depend on your location. Different jurisdictions have different legal definitions for catastrophic injuries. In some states, like Pennsylvania, there is no statute specifically defining these types of severe injuries.

Regardless, it’s possible to arrive at a definition of a catastrophic injury by highlighting the ways it may differ from another type of personal injury. […]

What Is the Difference Between Catastrophic Injury vs Personal Injury?

When accidents occur due to someone else’s careless actions, the consequences can range from minor injuries to life-altering trauma. While any injury can disrupt daily life, catastrophic injuries represent a particularly devastating category of harm that goes far beyond typical personal injury cases. These profound injuries fundamentally change the path of a victim’s life, affecting not just their immediate health but their entire future.

Seeing how personal injury differs from catastrophic injury helps explain why these cases need expert legal help and careful planning for the future.

Defining Catastrophic and Personal Injuries

Some states provide specific definitions of catastrophic injuries, but many do not. Where there is no official legal definition of a catastrophic injury, understanding the topic becomes easier when comparing it to a general personal injury.

The severity of a personal injury can vary depending on many factors. […]

What If Road Debris Causes Your Car Accident?

When debris flies from a vehicle and onto the road, all other drivers are at risk of being injured in road debris accidents. Perhaps you were injured in such an accident because of unsecured loads or another form of negligence. Now, you may be facing medical expenses, lost income, and a range of other struggles.

You deserve compensation if someone’s negligence caused a road debris crash. However, it’s important to consider how the process of seeking compensation in these circumstances may be unique when compared to other personal injury cases.

Understanding Road Debris Accidents

Road debris can take many forms. The following are common types of road debris that could potentially cause accidents:

• Cargo that has fallen from trucks
• Fallen trees and large tree limbs that have fallen to the ground
• Debris from a previous collision
• Tires
• Broken glass
• Litter
• Rocks
• Garbage

Don’t underestimate how dangerous road debris can put drivers at risk. […]

What Is the Average Payout in a Wrongful Death Settlement?

A loved one’s untimely passing is always a painful experience. If your loved one passed because someone else was negligent, while nothing can bring them back, it’s important to understand that compensation may be available for various losses associated with their death and require the services of a wrongful death lawyer.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit allows surviving loved ones of a wrongful death victim to seek compensation for everything from the direct financial losses of death to the emotional distress that might be more difficult to quantify after a tragic loss.

There is no standardized or officially tracked average payout for wrongful death settlements, as each case is uniquely influenced by factors such as the deceased’s age, income, future earning potential, and the circumstances of their death. Wrongful death settlements can vary dramatically based on multiple variables, including the jurisdiction’s laws, […]

Why Do Gas Explosions Keep Happening?

Many gas explosions are preventable, but despite the devastation they cause, they keep happening. Gas utility companies, property owners, manufacturers of gas appliances, contractors, and government agencies all have a role in preventing gas explosions. Often, homeowners and people living with gas appliances don’t know the gas appliances and lines in and around their homes are posing an invisible risk.

Understanding the Devastating Impact of Gas Explosions

A gas explosion can leave numerous household members, and even whole communities, emotionally and physically injured in its wake.

Physical and Mental Health Impacts

Even with immediate assistance from medical personnel, serious physical injuries and fatalities can be unavoidable. Injuries from gas explosions often include:

• Burns
• Blast injuries
• Broken bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Hearing damage or loss
• Respiratory injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

The immediate injuries suffered at the time of the explosion aren’t the only ones victims face. […]

Chances of Winning a Wrongful Death Settlement

The sudden loss of a loved one can be emotionally and financially devastating, making a wrongful death lawsuit a viable option for many families. Understanding the legal process and the factors that can affect the chances of winning is crucial before proceeding with a claim.

Understanding the Chances of Winning a Wrongful Death Settlement

Many plaintiffs find that, depending on the circumstances of their case, there is a high likelihood that they will reach a settlement. Several factors can influence the chances of success in a wrongful death claim, including the strength of the evidence, the clarity of liability, and the presence of any contributing negligence. Additionally, the experience of your legal representation can significantly impact the outcome.  Recent data indicates a more favorable outcomes for plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits in Pennsylvania.

A wrongful death attorney who is well-versed in wrongful death cases can help advocate for your rights, […]

What Happens If You’re in an Accident with a Rental Car?

When you’re in an accident with a rental car, the last thing you need is more stress trying to figure out insurance coverage. You likely have multiple layers of protection available. Your auto insurance may cover the incident, the rental company’s optional coverage could kick in, and even the credit card you used to rent the vehicle might provide insurance benefits.

If you’ve been hurt in a rental car accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to a car accident attorney at Munley Law who can guide you through this challenging time. They’ll work hard to protect your interests and help you get the compensation you deserve while taking the burden of dealing with multiple insurance claims off your shoulders.

Who Covers a Rental Car Accident?

When you’re involved in a rental car accident, there can be several sources of coverage. First, […]

Munley Law Earns Tier 1 Rankings From Best Law Firms® in 2025

Munley Law is pleased to announce it has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® in five practice areas.

Founded in 1959, Munley Law is a national leader in personal injury law. Our personal injury lawyers have been listed in Best Lawyers in America® and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® and have earned board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Munley Law received the following Regional Tier 1 rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms® for Northeastern Pennsylvania:

• Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants
• Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
• Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Insurance Law

Earlier this year, nine of our personal injury attorneys were named to The 2025 Best Lawyers in America® list. Additionally, Mackenzie Wilson was listed in the 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® list. […]

What Is an Aggravation of a Preexisting Condition or Injury?

You may be eligible for compensation if you were injured on the job or in an accident resulting from the negligence of another party. You can seek compensation by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit.

However, your case may be uniquely complex if you have a preexisting condition. Along with compensation for any new injuries you may have sustained, you may also deserve compensation for the aggravation of a preexisting condition. Proving you deserve this compensation could be challenging, though.

Understanding Aggravation of a Preexisting Condition

What is an aggravation of a preexisting condition or injury? In a legal context, aggravation of a preexisting condition means that the condition was made permanently worse. This differs from exacerbation. When someone sustains an exacerbated injury, their previous injury temporarily worsens. However, the preexisting injury will likely return to its previous state over time.

Aggravation of preexisting injuries and conditions is different. […]