Munley Law Blog

Study: US drivers use a smartphone behind the wheel 90% of the time

Largest distracted driving study shows American drivers use a smartphone nearly every trip

A new report from ZenDrive found nearly 9 in 10 drivers used their phones while driving. It’s a startling statistic, but not hard to believe.

ZenDrive is a driving data and analytics company that uses smartphone sensors to collect information about driving behavior and safety. Theirs is the largest distracted driving behavior study to date.  They analyzed 3 million drivers over 3 months, for more than 5 billion miles. Instead of relying on self-reporting, ZenDrive tapped into phones’ sensors to determine usage. They found that in 88% of the trips analyzed, the driver used a smartphone. 

The study also ranks U.S. states by their level of distraction, mile for mile. With 1 being the least distracted and 51 being the most, Pennsylvania came in at #33. […]

Pennsylvania Among the U.S. States with the Most Dog Bites

Dog Bite Prevention Week

April 9-15 is Dog Bite Prevention Week. The American Humane Association, the U.S. Postal Service, and other groups observe this week each year in an effort to help reduce the number of dog bites nationwide.

This year, multiple reports have come out indicating that dog bites increased in 2016. According to the USPS, More than 6,700 postal workers suffered a dog bite last year. That’s 200 more than in 2015. Some researchers connect this increase with the growing popularity of online shopping and home delivery services.

The Insurance Information Institute and State Farm also report that dog bites increased by as much as 18% overall last year. Note that this number may other types of include dog-related incidents – not just bites.

Which states experience the most dog bites? Pennsylvania ranks #4 in the country, […]

Slow Down: It’s National Work Zone Awareness Week

National Work Zone Awareness Week: Prevent Car Accidents, Protect Workers

April 3-7 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. As construction season approaches, we remind Pennsylvania drivers to take extra caution when moving through a work zone.

Pennsylvania drivers are used to road work. It can be easy to take construction zones for granted and zip through orange barrel-and-cone mazes without care.

National Work Zone Awareness Week reminds drivers everywhere to slow down and take care in road construction zones.  Last year, there were more than 2,000 crashes in Pennsylvania road work zones.  While highway workers are highly vulnerable, drivers and passengers make up the majority of work zone fatalities.

And, recklessness in a work zone can cost you. In PA, speeding fines are doubled in construction zones. If you cause a serious injury in a work zone, you face a $5,000 fine and a six-month license suspension. […]

New tech solutions for truck safety

As truck accident lawyers, we don’t just handle truck accident cases, we also strive to improve safety on our nation’s highways. We regularly join with other advocates across the country in support of better safety laws and regulations. Sometimes, working toward change can feel like an uphill battle. So, it’s especially gratifying to see trucking companies and researchers voluntarily investing in safety technology that will save lives.

Artificial Daylight to Improve Trucker Health, Safety

One exciting tech solution to a serious truck safety issue is the use of artificial daylight in truck cabs.

Logging 10+ hour days and making long overnight trips can take a toll on truck drivers’ physical and mental health. It also presents a safety hazard – a drowsy driver behind the wheel of an 80,000lb vehicle can spell disaster. So,  researchers in Germany sought to counteract the effects of darkness on the brain.   […]

How Much Will I Be Paid for Lost Wages?

As Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers, we often find that one of the most common problems related to workers’ comp is how little people know about it. If you’ve never been hurt at work before, the claims process can be confusing. You’ll probably have lots of questions about how and when you can recover your lost wages.

One of the most common ones is: How much will I be paid for my lost wages?

If you suffer an injury on the job that prevents you from being able to work, workers’ compensation insurance exists to cover your medical bills and your wages until you can work again. In this way, workers can recover their losses without resorting to a lawsuit. Just how much you will receive, however, can vary.

Typically, you’ll receive compensation benefits for 2/3 (or 66.6%) of your average weekly wage. […]