Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer | Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal Injury Lawyers / Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer / Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer

Injured in a Truck Accident in Pittsburgh? Our Truck Accident Lawyers are Here to Help.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in an accident involving a tractor-trailer or large truck, contact our award-winning Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. For more than 60 years, our attorneys have been fighting for truck accident victims across the country. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is a recognized leader in the field of truck accident litigation; no other Pittsburgh attorney can match our level of truck expertise.

$32 Million Wrongful Death

$26 Million Truck Accident

$17.5 Million Car Accident

$12 Million Product Liability

$9 Million Truck Accident

$8 Million Truck Accident

$7.5 Million Auto Accident

$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident

$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury

$5 Million Medical Malpractice

$5 Million Bus Accidents

Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation with one of our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers. We don't charge a fee unless we win. Call, chat, or submit our online form to start the road to recovery today.

Why Should I Hire Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for My Pittsburgh Truck Accident Case?

Truck accident cases can be quite complex. Not only do the weight and height of a tractor trailer can cause severe injuries, but there are more parties involved. Not only will you need to deal with the trucking company and its driver, but their insurance company. All these parties have a team of dedicated lawyers to fight your claim and make sure you receive the lowest possible settlement. What you need is an experienced truck accident attorney in Pittsburgh to fight on your behalf and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers have decades of experience winning truck cases. We are among only a handful of Pennsylvania injury lawyers who have earned board certification in Truck Accident Law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. We are also the only firm in the United States with two lawyers who have led the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group.

Both Daniel Munley and Marion Munley have been recognized as one of the Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. In 2019, the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group renamed the “Chairman's Award” in honor of our late founder Robert W. Munley (1930-2019). This is in recognition of his work as one of the first lawyers to specialize in truck cases and to treat them differently from other types of auto accidents. Annually, an attorney is recognized for advancing the goals of the group: to educate other lawyers on trucking law matters and to improve highway safety through legal work and advocacy. Marion Munley and Daniel Munley were the first lawyers to be awarded after it was renamed the Robert W. Munley Award.

How Common are Truck Accidents in Pittsburgh?

According to studies conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were approximately 9,818 vehicle collisions in Allegheny County in 2020. Of these accidents, 5.3% involved a fatality. Allegheny County is one of the top 10 counties in Pennsylvania with the most traffic accidents and traffic-related fatalities, second only to Philadelphia.

Fortunately, tractor trailer accidents do not happen as often as they use to. According to PennDOT's latest data, the number of tractor trailer accidents has remained steady for the past five years and, in fact, is the lowest it's been since 2016. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for fatal injuries after a trucking accident. PennDOT has found that fatal injury crashes in heavy truck accidents have stayed consistent over the past few years.

Why Do Truck Accidents Happen in Pittsburgh?

There is no one, universal cause of semi-truck accidents in Pittsburgh. As your advocates, we will first determine and prove what kinds of factors and negligent actions led to your crash.

The most common reasons truck accidents occur include:

Vehicle Failures – According to PennDOT, the “vast majority of primary factors in heavy truck vehicle failure crashes were related to tires and wheels, brakes, power train failure and unsecured trailer/overloaded.” These failures can be the result of poor manufacturing or installation, lack of maintenance or repair, or user errors.
Distracted Driving – Truck drivers spend most of their time behind the wheel. Many report feeling bored and lonely driving the long hours, and as a result, they become easily distracted by texting, playing cell phone games, fiddling with the radio, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, or otherwise multitasking. Any time you take your eyes off the road, it can be compared to driving with your eyes closed.
Impaired Driving – Truckers greatly increase the likelihood of a tractor trailer crash when they use illicit substances such as alcohol, marijuana, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine, or barbiturates before or while driving. Driving while under the influence can dangerous for any driver, let alone one who does it for a living.
Fatigued Driving – When truck drivers violate the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations regarding hours of operation and mandatory breaks and sleep periods, they are much more likely to become fatigued. Exhausted truckers drive negligently and crash into other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, or highways structures such as partitions and road signs.
Aggressive Driving – With a looming deadline and exhaustion setting in, it's easy for any driver to become reckless while driving. Tailgating, speeding, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield are just some of the aggressive driving techniques that can lead to an accident with serious injuries.
Inclement Weather – Semi-trucks have a harder time steering and stopping than other motor vehicles. Bad weather only makes this problem worse. Pittsburgh weather can be prone to harsh winter driving conditions such as ice, snow, hail, sleet, freezing rain, and sub-zero temperatures.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Pittsburgh Truck Accident?

When you get into a car accident in Pittsburgh, chances are there are only one or two parties responsible for the crash — you and/or the other driver. But in a tractor trailer accident, more than one party may be held responsible for your accident.

First is the most obvious, the truck driver. If the trucker was acting in a negligent manner at the time of the accident, they can be held at fault. For example, the driver had been on the road longer than 15 hours. This caused them to become tired and fall asleep behind the wheel, crashing into your vehicle. In this scenario, the truck driver is at fault for the accident.

But what if the truck driver was under orders to stay on the road and ignore federal hour of service regulations? If this was the case, then the trucking company be held responsible. Because it forced its employee to ignore regulations, it is just as guilty as the trucker for the accident.

Another party that may be responsible for the truck crash is the manufacturer of the truck. Let's say the tractor trailer accident was not caused by a fatigued driver but a faulty part in the truck. If this was the case, the manufacturer may be held liable for your injuries.

There may also be other parties responsible for the accident such as a shipping company, the company that loaded the cargo into the trailer, or a company responsible for hiring a negligent shipper. This is why it's so important to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Pittsburgh as soon as possible to start to work on your claim and make sure the responsible parties are held accountable for their negligence.

Contact Our Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer, we will help you recover money for your medical costs and other losses. The Pittsburgh truck accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys represents tractor trailer accident victims throughout the country. With more than half a century worth of experience in trucking law, we understand what needs to be done so you can get compensation from the right parties. We will fight the insurance company and make sure all your bills are paid.

Contact a Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today. We'll discuss your legal options for obtaining money for the losses you have suffered in a trucking accident.

Frequently Asked Questions for Truck Accidents in Pittsburgh

Q: What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?

A: As the victim of a truck accident in Pittsburgh, you have the right to compensation for your injuries. However, because trucking accidents often involve multiple responsible parties and insurance companies, obtaining that compensation can be a challenging battle. Without the right legal representation, you're unlikely to get a fair settlement.

You can protect your claim as soon as the accident occurs. Make sure you contact the police to get the accident down on record. A police report will be vital information after the accident.

You will also want to get as much evidence as you can from the scene. Get contact information from everyone involved in the accident as well as witnesses. Take photos and video of the accident scene, of the vehicles involved, and of your injuries.

When you make your statement to the police, keep it brief and never admit fault.

Get medical treatment as soon as possible, even if you don't think you were injured. Sometimes, injuries do not present themselves until hours or even days after the accident. Keep a record of all the medical bills you accumulate.

Trucking companies will usually have unlimited resources, including teams of lawyers to fight against any lawsuit you may file as a result of an accident. If you have been hit by a tractor trailer or large commercial vehicle, the best way to protect yourself is to contact an experienced Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.

Q: What Should I Do If the Truck Company's Insurance Company Contacts Me?

A: It's very likely that someone from the trucking company or the insurance company will reach out to you before you have the chance to speak with a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer.

Try to avoid speaking with them if you can. If you can't avoid them, do not agree to make a recorded statement to the trucking company or their insurance carrier. Do not sign any forms sent to you by the trucking company and their insurance carrier. And do not accept any settlement offer until you had the chance to speak with our truck accident attorneys.

Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible for a free consultation, and we will look at any paperwork they send to you.

Q: What Should I Do in the Days Following a Truck Accident?

A: The days following any crash are vital to your case. Not only should you be speaking with a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer about your claim, but you should also do the following:

Get a copy of the police report for your crash
Get a valuation of the property damage from your insurance company
Keep track of all doctor's visits and treatment you receive, and keep a journal of any symptoms or pain you experience
Get copies of all test results, medication prescriptions, treatments, and any other relevant medical information
Keep a detailed list of any out-of-pocket expenses you incur
Record days of missed work or other activities/events
Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Wreck in Pittsburgh?

A: In most cases, the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania is two years from the date of the accident. But, it is best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible following an accident. It's easy to lose or destroy important pieces of evidence regarding vehicle safety standards and driver logs. It is best if we can get to work as soon as possible.

Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

A: At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we work on a contingency basis. What this means is you do not pay a fee until the case is settled. If we are successful in getting you the compensation you deserve, we will take a small percentage of the damages. However, if we are not successful, then you do not owe us a dime. And as always, the first consultation is always free.

If you were involved in a truck accident in Pittsburgh and suffered catastrophic injuries, make sure you get the help you need to recover. Contact a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today to get your claim started. Choose carefully.

Do I Have A Case?

If you think you may have a personal injury case, contact us now for a FREE consultation.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

510 Third Avenue
2nd Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
+14125345133