Munley Law Blog

Who Is Liable for a Summer Boating Accident at Blue Marsh Lake?

Liability for a boating accident at Blue Marsh Lake usually falls on the other boat operator under Pennsylvania’s Boat and Fish Code. But when the accident involves the lake’s own docks, buoys, or hazard markings, the claim is against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers instead, and follows an entirely different federal process.

Blue Marsh Lake draws close to 900,000 visitors a year to its 1,147 acres of water northwest of Reading, and knowing which of those two paths applies changes both the deadline a boater is working against and the paperwork the claim requires.

What Pennsylvania Law Governs a Boating Accident at Blue Marsh Lake?

A boating accident caused by another operator on Blue Marsh Lake is governed by Pennsylvania’s Boat and Fish Code, which treats negligent operation of a watercraft as a summary offense and reckless operation as a third-degree misdemeanor.  […]

Who Is Liable When a Pedestrian Is Struck in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle?

The driver who failed to yield is usually liable when a pedestrian is struck in Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle.

But fault in a downtown crash isn’t always that simple once local driving habits like the “Pittsburgh left” and the neighborhood’s own narrow, one-way street grid enter the picture.

What Does Pennsylvania Law Say About a Driver’s Duty to a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk?

Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 3542, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing within any marked crosswalk, or any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, whenever there’s no traffic signal controlling the crossing. A driver who violates that duty commits a summary offense, and while the fine is only $50, the violation becomes powerful evidence of negligence in a civil injury claim.

Pedestrians have obligations too. Pennsylvania law requires pedestrians in urban districts to cross only within a marked crosswalk between signalized intersections, […]

When Are Scranton Bars and Restaurants Liable for a Slip and Fall?

A Scranton bar, restaurant, or commercial property is liable for a slip and fall when it knew, or reasonably should have known, about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn customers in time. This standard applies to the more than 50 restaurants, bars, and cafes all packed into downtown Scranton.

What counts as “reasonable” depends on the hazard. How long did it exist? And did the business have a real chance to catch it before someone got hurt?

What Legal Duty Does a Scranton Bar or Restaurant Owe Its Customers?

Pennsylvania law treats a paying customer at a bar or restaurant as a business invitee. Invitee status carries the highest duty a property owner owes anyone on the premises. The courts apply Section 343 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts directly, which means that an owner is liable if they:

• Knew or should have discovered the hazard
• Should have realized the danger it posed
• Should have expected that customers would not protect themselves against it
• Still failed to fix or warn customers about it

This is a four-part test. […]

Why Are Truck Accidents on I-78 and Route 22 So Common Near Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks?

Truck accidents often occur on I-78 and Route 22 near Lehigh Valley industrial parks for a simple reason. Route 22 near the JW Industrial Park in Allentown carries some of the heaviest volume of any state route in the region, and the companies operating out of the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park send trucks merging onto it all day at speeds well below the flow of highway traffic.

The mismatch of a fully loaded truck accelerating from a warehouse driveway into highway-speed traffic is one of the most common setups for a serious crash in this corridor.

How Much Truck Traffic Does This Corridor Carry?

The Greater Lehigh Valley’s industrial footprint sits directly along I-78, Route 22, Route 33, and the Northeastern extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This positioning is deliberate. Warehouses and distribution centers choose these locations specifically for interstate access, and the region has grown into one of the busiest warehousing and logistics hubs on the East Coast as a result. […]

Why Are Downtown Stroudsburg’s Crosswalks a Growing Liability for Monroe County Pedestrians?

Downtown Stroudsburg’s crosswalks are becoming an increasing safety concern as foot traffic along Main Street continues to grow. While pedestrian activity has increased over time, much of the corridor’s infrastructure was not designed to accommodate today’s levels of use, prompting the borough to pursue safety improvements.

Pennsylvania law already requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Even so, the borough recently secured a major federal safety grant to redesign Main Street’s crossings, reflecting a recognized need to improve pedestrian safety and better protect the growing number of people using the area.

This combination of a legal right-of-way that already exists on paper and a borough project confirming it was not working in practice is exactly what makes a Main Street pedestrian crash a real liability question. The two pieces of evidence reinforce each other.

What Does Pennsylvania Law Require at a Crosswalk? […]

Why Do I-95 Truck Accidents in Philadelphia Often Involve Multiple Vehicles?

I-95 truck accidents in Philadelphia often involve multiple vehicles for one main reason. The corridor combines highway-speed traffic with some of the densest interchange spacing on the East Coast, and a single truck losing control at speed rarely stays a single-vehicle event.

When a fully loaded tractor-trailer suddenly stops, jackknifes, or catches fire, the vehicles immediately behind it often have no realistic way to stop in time.

The 2023 collapse of I-95 in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia, caused by a tanker truck fire at the Cottman Avenue interchange, is the clearest recent example of how quickly a single truck incident on this highway can escalate.

How Busy Is I-95 Through Philadelphia?

Interstate 95 carries traffic from across the Northeast Corridor as it runs through Northeast Philadelphia, past Center City, and south toward the Delaware Memorial Bridge. This volume mixes commuter traffic, […]

Why Is the Warren Street Bypass One of Reading’s Most Crash-Prone Corridors?

Route 12, better known as the Warren Street Bypass, is one of Reading’s most crash-prone corridors for a specific reason. It averages more than one interchange per mile of highway. This creates a merge density that most drivers do not expect from what appears to be an ordinary bypass.

The interchange density with highway speeds, packed into a tight cluster of on-ramps and off-ramps, is normally reserved for a major interstate, not a state route running through a mid-size city. It creates far more opportunities for a serious crash than a typical rural stretch of road.

What Kind of Road Is the Warren Street Bypass?

PA Route 12 covers over 9 miles, running from the city of Reading east to Laureldale and Pricetown in Berks County. The western 4.5-mile section of the bypass is designated as a controlled-access expressway, with five interchanges packed into that stretch. […]

How Does Distracted Driving Put Pedestrians at Risk Around Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square?

Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square draws heavy foot traffic into a tight downtown grid where drivers are already threading through narrow streets, around parked cars, and across frequent crosswalks. When drivers become distracted, this increases pedestrians’ risk of an accident.

A driver glancing at a phone for even a few seconds has less time to notice someone stepping off a curb, and Public Square concentrates exactly that kind of pedestrian activity into a few compact blocks. Pennsylvania has specific laws addressing both distracted driving and a driver’s duty to pedestrians, and these laws intersect directly in a setting like this.

Understanding how those two laws work together is crucial right after a crash when insurance companies are already deciding who to blame.

How Much Foot Traffic Does Public Square Actually Draw?

Public Square is a two-acre park at the historic center of downtown Wilkes-Barre, […]

Why Are Medical Malpractice Claims Against Pittsburgh’s Major Hospital Systems More Complex Than It Appears?

Medical malpractice claims against a major Pittsburgh hospital system are more complex than they appear for a structural reason.

A system like UPMC or Allegheny Health Network is not one legal entity. It is a network of affiliated hospitals, practice groups, and physicians, each of which may need to be evaluated separately for liability. This structure is not an accident; it reflects decades of mergers and acquisitions across the region.

Determining which entity within a large system is legally responsible for an instance of substandard care is a very different task than suing an individual physician in solo practice.

What Makes UPMC or Allegheny Health Network Different From a Single Doctor’s Office?

A large hospital system in Pittsburgh includes multiple hospital campuses, outpatient centers, and physician practice groups. Some are directly owned by the system. Others are separately organized entities that merely affiliate with it, […]

Pennsylvania Nursing Home Staffing Requirements and How They Affect Patient Safety

Families trust nursing homes to have enough trained staff on duty to care for residents around the clock.

The number of staff on duty affects nearly every part of a resident’s day, from basic care to supervision. When staffing levels are too low, residents may not be checked on as often as they should be, and everyday care tasks can be delayed or missed.

If this happens, problems such as preventable falls, medication errors, and residents wandering away without being noticed begin to arise.

Pennsylvania Nursing Home Staffing Laws

Pennsylvania nursing homes must meet both federal and state staffing standards. These rules are meant to match staffing levels with resident needs, not just facility size.

Federal law, 42 C.F.R. § 483.35, requires nursing homes to have sufficient licensed nurses and aides on duty to provide proper care for every resident. […]

Why Does a Truck’s GVWR Matter for Drivers on I-81 Near Scranton?

Commercial trucks are a common sight on Scranton’s highways and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Because these vehicles can weigh up to 40 times as much as the average passenger car, even small violations of federal safety standards can have serious consequences.

One of the most important safety measurements for any commercial truck is its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). While most drivers never think about GVWR, it plays an important role in preventing crashes and can become a critical factor when investigators determine why a truck accident occurred.

What Does a Truck’s GVWR Cover?

A truck’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum amount of weight a vehicle is designed to carry safely. This number is assigned by the manufacturer after engineers evaluate the truck’s frame, suspension, axles, brakes, tires, and other components.

Federal law, at 23 U.S.C. […]

What Philadelphia Construction and Union Workers Need to Know About Workers’ Comp When a Contractor Disputes the Claim

A contractor disputing your workers’ compensation claim does not mean that you lose your right to benefits. It just means someone, usually the contractor’s insurance company, is questioning part of your claim. This query could be whether you were hurt on the job, whether your injury is work-related, or whether you should still be receiving benefits.

From commercial buildings in Center City to roadwork along I-95 and neighborhood redevelopment projects across Philadelphia, construction workers do some of the toughest jobs in the city. The work is physically demanding, and a single accident can leave someone unable to work for weeks or even months.

Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system is meant to cover medical benefits and wage-loss benefits after a work injury. Unfortunately, the process is not always as simple as filing paperwork and waiting for benefits to arrive. Contractors and insurance companies sometimes challenge claims, especially when an injury could keep someone out of work for months or longer. […]

How Wrongful Death Claims Work After a Fatal Crash on Route 22 in the Lehigh Valley

A fatal crash on Route 22 can leave surviving family members facing funeral expenses, lost household income, and difficult questions about how the collision happened. When another driver’s negligence caused the crash, Pennsylvania law may allow certain family members to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Not every fatal crash is simply an accident. Some occur because a driver was distracted, speeding, impaired, or otherwise acting carelessly. When that happens, Pennsylvania law gives certain family members the right to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.

When a fatal crash occurs, determining exactly how it happened is often the first step toward understanding whether a wrongful death claim may be available.

Fatal Crashes on Route 22 Often Leave Families With Questions

Families are often left wondering whether the other driver was distracted, speeding, impaired, or engaging in some other dangerous behavior before the collision. […]

Why Slip and Fall Claims on SEPTA Platforms Are More Complicated Than a Standard Premises Case in Philadelphia

A slip and fall on SEPTA property often involves issues that do not arise in a typical premises liability case. Unlike a fall at a grocery store or shopping center, a SEPTA claim may involve questions of governmental immunity, disputes over control of the property, and challenges to the preservation of key evidence.

SEPTA stations can pose hazards not found in many other premises liability cases. A fall may occur on a crowded platform, a stairway leading to the tracks, or an outdoor station exposed to rain, snow, and ice. Broken stairs, poor lighting, uneven walking surfaces, and slippery platforms are among the conditions that can lead to serious injuries.

The challenge is that proving a SEPTA claim is not always as simple as showing that a hazard existed. Determining who was responsible for the area and preserving evidence before it disappears are often important parts of the case. […]

Dan Munley Featured on SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio

Truck accident attorney Daniel W. Munley was recently featured as a guest on “On the Move with Dan Ronan”, airing on SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio (Ch. 146). Munley joined host Dan Ronan to discuss the legal implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, a landmark ruling that allows injured parties to bring state negligence claims against freight brokers for negligently hiring unsafe motor carriers.

The May 14, 2026, ruling resolved a long-contested legal question about whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) preempted state tort claims against brokers. The Supreme Court held that it does not, allowing cases to proceed in state courts when a broker’s carrier selection contributed to a truck crash.

Dan, who has lobbied Congress on trucking safety issues and tried truck accident cases across the country, […]

Who Is at Fault in a Parking Lot Crash at a Scranton Mall or Downtown Garage?

You were easing out of a space at the Marketplace at Steamtown, or inching through a packed lot off Commerce Boulevard in Dickson City, when another car crashed into yours. Now, the other driver is insisting it was your fault because “everyone knows parking lots are 50/50.”

Parking lot crashes are not automatically shared fault, and they are not too small to matter. A low-speed collision can still leave you with a back or neck injury, a totaled vehicle, and an insurer looking for any reason to pay less.

Munley Law has represented Lackawanna County drivers for nearly 70 years, and we know how fault is determined when a crash occurs on private property.

If you were injured in a parking lot crash anywhere in the Scranton area, call our Scranton office at 570-865-4699 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win. […]

Who Is Liable When a Guest Gets Hurt at a Backyard Pool Party in Allegheny County?

A backyard pool is the center of an Allegheny County summer. It is also where a relaxed afternoon can turn into a serious injury in seconds, and where a host who never imagined being sued can suddenly face a claim. When a guest is hurt at a pool party, the question of who is responsible is rarely as simple as it first seems.

Pool injuries range from a slip on a wet deck to drowning, and the legal answer depends on what the homeowner did or failed to do. Munley Law’s Pittsburgh premises liability attorneys have handled cases throughout Allegheny County, and we help injured guests and concerned hosts understand where responsibility lies and how these claims work.

If you or your child was hurt at a pool party in the Pittsburgh area, call our Pittsburgh office at 412-534-5133 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win. […]

Who Is Responsible If You’re Hurt at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza?

Under Pennsylvania law, an injury at a venue like Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township falls into one of two very different categories. A risk inherent in the event itself, such as a puck clearing the glass at a hockey game, is usually treated as the spectator’s own risk. Almost everything else, such as a fall in a crowded concourse, a slick restroom floor, or an injury in the parking lot off Highland Park Boulevard, is the venue’s responsibility, because the operator owes its guests a high duty of care.

Knowing which side of that line your injury falls on is what decides whether you have a claim. If you were injured at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, our Wilkes-Barre personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Munley Law for a free consultation.

What Injuries Does the Arena Have to Answer For?

When you buy a ticket, […]

Why Summer Tourist Traffic in the Poconos Makes I-80 More Dangerous for Truck Crashes

Every summer, the Poconos is filled with families heading to water parks, resorts, and lakes. Most of them reach Monroe County via Interstate 80, the same road that carries a steady stream of commercial trucks day and night. But this mix of unfamiliar vacation traffic and heavy freight is what makes I-80 through the Poconos so dangerous in the summer months.

A truck crash is rarely a simple accident, and one that occurs in heavy tourist traffic is even more complicated. Munley Law has handled truck accident cases across Monroe County and the Poconos for decades, and we know how quickly a trucking company moves to protect itself after a crash on I-80, often before the injured driver has even left the hospital.

If you were injured in a truck crash on I-80 or anywhere in the Poconos, call our board-certified Stroudsburg truck accident attorneys for a free consultation. […]

How to Spot Nursing Home Neglect in Berks County

A nursing home is meant to provide care and support for people who can no longer live safely on their own. We put our trust in these facilities to help with medications, meals, hygiene, mobility, and medical needs.

However, sometimes this trust is broken when a home fails to meet basic standards of care, whether through neglect, understaffing, or outright abuse, leaving Berks County residents vulnerable to preventable harm and distress.

Many Neglect Cases Start with Small Changes

Families are often the first people to notice that something is wrong.

A loved one who used to look forward to visits may seem quieter than usual or stop wanting to spend time with family. You may notice they’re wearing dirty clothes, haven’t been shaved or bathed, or their room isn’t being kept up the way it once was. […]