If You've Suffered An Injury After a Truck Accident, You Need an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer On Your Side
If you or a loved one was injured by a truck driver's negligence, you need an experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer at your side. For more than 60 years, the truck accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have fought for families and individuals who have been injured in motor vehicle crashes or other accidents involving commercial vehicles.
As just one example, in 2018, Marion Munley, Caroline Munley, and Bob Munley reached an $8 million settlement in a wrongful death case involving a truck crash. Our experienced personal injury legal team has successfully resolved many personal injury cases just like this one. Together, we can work to recover money to compensate you for all the injuries you suffered in a trucking accident.
Speaking to our law firm is completely free. In your free consultation, our Philadelphia truck accident lawyers will explain your options. And, you won't pay anything out of pocket if you decide to move forward with us. We are paid on a contingency fee basis, which means that we only get paid if we win, and we are paid from the amount we win, never out of your own pocket. Contact us today.
How Do I Know If I Am Entitled To Compensation After a Truck Accident?
Accident victims often suffer serious injuries after a commercial truck accident. After a crash, it's common to be overwhelmed, especially in the face of potentially crippling property damage and medical bills. It's important to know that you don't have to deal with the aftermath of an accident alone.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Philadelphia County sees the most truck accidents in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Of the 10,458 motor vehicle accidents in 2021, 4.83 percent involved a large truck.
If you're injured by a truck accident, or the actions of a truck driver more generally, you should contact our lawyers. We can talk to you about your situation and whether it might entitle you to compensation. But generally, recovering compensation is based on the legal concept of negligence.
What is negligence?
People often throw terms like “negligence” and “personal injury” around, and it's easy to get confused. Not all injuries are caused by negligence, and not all negligence results in an injury. In the law, a personal injury or truck accident case refers to a legal dispute resulting from an injury caused by another person's negligence. “Negligence” is a legal term. In Pennsylvania, the party that injured you may have been negligent if that person owed you a duty, breached that duty, that breach caused your injury, and you suffered damages.
While our attorneys are happy to discuss your case and whether you might be entitled with you, at no cost, below you can find some more information on these topics.
The at-fault party owed you a duty of care:
A “duty of care” simply means that the at-fault party had a legal responsibility to protect you from harm. Trucking accidents implicate many different kinds of duties. Pennsylvania law recognizes many types of duties, and an expert Philadelphia truck accident attorney can help you determine if you were owed a duty of care. Drivers, including transport or semi truck drivers, have a legal responsibility to keep alert and drive safely while on the road. Trucking companies also may have a duty to properly maintain the vehicles they put on the road to keep them working in a safe way.
The at-fault party breached their duty of care:
Someone typically “breaches” a duty of care when they fail to act reasonably, or as a reasonable person would, in a given situation. For example, a driver who gets behind the wheel after having a few drinks certainly breaches a duty of care. Or, distracted drivers, such as a driver who is texting, playing with the radio, or otherwise not paying attention, will often breach the duty they owe to keep other drivers—and pedestrians—safe.
The unreasonable actions of the at-fault party caused an injury:
Under the law, the unreasonable actions of the party who injured you must have caused your injury. In some cases, the cause of an injury can be unclear. For example, when accident injuries interact with preexisting injuries or when multiple smaller vehicles were involved in a crash caused by, for example, a semi truck. That's okay. An experienced accident lawyer can help you decide whether you or a loved one were injured by negligence. Our attorneys are also experienced investigating truck accidents to help figure out what happened and hold all potentially liable parties, be it a truck driver, truck owner, or a trucking company, accountable.
Finally, as a result of the unreasonable actions of the at-fault party, there were damages:
Damages under the law are designed to make you whole, and for that reason an experienced personal injury attorney can help you claim many different types of damages in a personal injury case. Damages often refer to any losses you may suffer because of the unreasonable conduct of the at-fault truck driver or trucking company. Damages can include money to reimburse your medical expenses, to cover damages to property, to compensate you for your pain and suffering, and to pay lost wages if you are unable to continue working.
If your personal injury case meets the criteria above, then you may have a negligence claim against a trucking company or truck driver. But the only way to be certain is to contact a Philadelphia truck accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible. Our law firm is happy to discuss the specifics of your case and give you our preliminary assessment during a free consultation.
Why Should You Hire A Truck Accident Lawyer?
Why do you need a lawyer? The right truck accident attorney is always going to work to make sure your rights are protected in the wake of a commercial vehicle accident. No matter how big or small, truck accidents have consequences, and there will be many players involved. You should be able to focus on getting medical care and dealing with any damage caused by the accident. Your lawyer can focus on holding the wrongdoer accountable and getting you the financial relief you need to move forward.
Here are just a few reasons you shouldn't try to navigate the aftermath of a truck crash alone:
Commercial truck accidents are legally complex, given the number of players involved
While it may seem simple, the commercial trucking industry is incredibly complex. Truck accident cases involve many players, and many times these players are going to react to an accident by trying to minimize their own financial exposure to truck accident liability. You need a lawyer to make sure you're not left holding the bill for the damages caused by someone else's wrongdoing.
Passengers, the truck driver, the driver of any other vehicle involved, the truck company or truck owners, insurance companies, the company that maintains the truck, and the company that makes any truck parts (just to name a few) all have a vested interest in the aftermath and outcome of an accident. It's hard to know which of these parties is responsible for the injuries you suffered. In fact, multiple parties could be held responsible. A lawyer can help you get to the bottom of it.
Lawyers can help resolve a dispute before it really starts
Of course, lawyers are familiar fighting cases in court. But, sometimes, the best option is to resolve a dispute well before a formal lawsuit. Whether you're fighting with an insurance company, an individual party involved in the crash, or negligent trucking companies, getting a lawyer involved early can help get the case resolved faster. Sometimes, lawyers can do this just by being involved in negotiations. After all, people are sometimes more forthcoming if they know that you are armed and ready to take a dispute to court.
Other times, we can help by writing a formal demand letter. This is essentially a letter explaining your claim, the reasoning behind your entitlement to money, and the underlying law. Sometimes, all it takes is someone who can speak the insurance company's language, or who can get through to the lawyers representing the truck driver or trucking company who did you wrong. These letters sometimes resolve cases long before a formal court case could.
Lawyers can investigate your claim and gather evidence
Because of the complexity of truck accidents, especially accidents involving large commercial trucks, there can be a lot of ground work to cover. After an accident, you should focus on moving forward. Let an experienced truck accident attorney —who is used to dealing with powerful insurance companies and trucking companies after an accident—deal with investigating what happened.
- A lawyer can identify and interview witnesses. This can involve any number of people. For example, the truck driver, other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and other witnesses who physically saw what happened can have invaluable information. We can also figure out who maintained the truck or trucks involved. We'll find witnesses with information, interview them, and preserve their testimony for use in court.
- We'll also gather documents and other physical evidence. We can take pictures of the truck involved, the accident scene, and any damage caused. Furthermore, we can track down surveillance video and other camera footage of the accident; this can be used both when advocating against insurance companies and in court. Additionally, sometimes a truck accident is caused by faulty bus maintenance or a malfunction in the mechanics of the truck itself. These cases require us to track down maintenance records and other important reports. We know where to look, and have experience tracking this evidence down for our clients.
- Furthermore, sometimes you will need an expert witness. This could be a medical expert who can testify to your injuries and how they will impact your life. It could also be an expert tasked with calculating the different ways the truck accident has cost you money. Furthermore, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to numerous interlocking government regulations imposed by the City of Philadelphia, the State of Pennsylvania, and even the United States Government. There are experts that can explain these regulations and why any violation of them was unreasonable. These witnesses can be the difference between winning and losing a case. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has worked with experts across Pennsylvania, and the country, to support our clients. We know how to do it effectively and efficiently.
Lawyers will represent you in court and in negotiations with other parties
You should never have to fight against the powerful entities (trucking companies and insurance companies, for example) who stand in your way after a truck accident alone. Sometimes, these parties will argue that you are at fault, even when you weren't. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Furthermore, sometimes there are unique challenges to recovery, for example, a driver may not be able to pay all of your damages himself. However, the trucking company, and their insurance, may be equally responsible. Experienced Philadelphia truck accident attorneys know how to get you the compensation you deserve.
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have experience working with, and against, many of the repeat players. We can make sure these powerful entities don't overpower your interests in any negotiations or informal discussions. And, if it comes time to fight in court, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys's attorneys are nationally recognized for their skills in the courtroom. We're ready to put them to work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Lawyers can help you estimate how much money you could recover and help you weigh your options
After a truck accident, you and your family will undoubtedly have questions, and it's completely common to not know whether, and how, to seek compensation from the at fault party. An experienced lawyer can help. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, during a free consultation we can help you estimate how much money you could be entitled to, and we can help present your options in plain English.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire An Experienced Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer?
The short answer, at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we understand that the financial burdens following a serious injury can be overwhelming, and that's why you pay nothing out of pocket.
Our initial consultations are always free. You can speak to one of our lawyers at no cost and completely risk free; hearing your options won't obligate you to do anything.
Furthermore, all our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not collect a fee unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you. You pay nothing upfront, and we get paid directly out of any recovery, so you'll never owe anything out of pocket.
If you think you may have a case, or if you have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, we will evaluate the details of your situation at no charge and let you know what legal options are available to you.
If you or someone you love suffered an injury, call an experienced personal injury lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys or use our online form.
Why Choose Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for Your Personal Injury Case?
With so many personal injury law firms to choose from, how do you know who you can trust to fight for you and your family? Selecting a Philadelphia truck accident attorney is an important decision. If you've been injured by a semi truck, or another commercial vehicle, and think you might have a truck accident case, you certainly have options. But Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys sets itself apart. Consider these factors that set Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys apart:
Track Record – Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has earned national recognition for our large settlements and verdicts, especially in truck accident claim. Our entire staff works diligently to make sure you get the maximum compensation owed to you, be it from a commercial truck driver, trucking companies, an insurance company, or any other party.
Experience – When it comes to a truck accident lawsuit, experience counts. Each of our partners has decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered serious injury or been denied benefits. Because we are a family firm, we often work closely together on our cases to achieve the best possible results for you. Furthermore, we have deep ties to Pennsylvania and to Philadelphia more specifically.
Industry Leaders – The board-certified Philadelphia truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are among the highest-rated and most respected legal advocates in the country. Other lawyers regularly look to us as the industry experts in trucking law and recovering for truck accident injuries. All of our credentials (including Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum) reflect the extremely high standards we've set for ourselves, and the recognition of our clients and peers.
Resources – Litigating commercial truck claims is challenging, especially in Philadelphia. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we utilize resources that are typically available only to big law firms. We work closely with our network of engineers, investigators, experts, and in-house medical personnel to build your case. What's more, unlike at other law firms, you aren't on the hook for paying these professions out of pocket.
Client Satisfaction – Perhaps the best testament to our success is the satisfaction of our past clients. We understand that the time after any injury or accident is incredibly difficult, especially when a semi truck or other commercial truck is involved. This is true not only for you, but also for your family.
Our lawyers aren't here to treat you like just another case; we want to understand what happened, what you and your family need, and help you get it. Our goal is, always, getting you the recovery you deserve. Be it through an informal negotiation, a settlement, or a verdict, we're here to fight for you. We'll keep you informed, and let you make the decisions. Learn what former Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys clients have to say about their experience with our firm.
Our No-Fee Promise – We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. If we do not produce results for you, you owe us nothing. At no point will you ever pay anything out of pocket; even if we win, our fee comes out of the money we recover for you.
At bottom, we understand that you're coming to us at one of the most challenging times for you and your family. Our attorneys know that, and do everything they can to help you move forward. We make it our mission, not just our job, to help you get the financial recovery you need in the aftermath of complex and devastating commercial truck accident. We're ready and willing to take out truck drivers, trucking companies, and insurance companies alike.
You can contact our attorneys by phone or by using the form or chat feature available on our website.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747
