When commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds collide with passenger cars, the results are often devastating. If you’ve been injured in a crash involving a tractor-trailer, delivery truck, or other large commercial vehicle in the Scranton area, you’re likely facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your future.
Munley Law has been handling these complex cases for over 65 years. We know how trucking companies operate, what evidence matters most, and how to build cases that get results. Our three board-certified Scranton truck accident attorneys have recovered over $1 billion for clients throughout Pennsylvania, including multiple settlements exceeding $20 million.
The trucking company’s insurance team is already working to limit its liability. Make sure you have our experienced Scranton legal team protecting your interests.
Call Munley Law now for a free consultation. No fees unless we recover compensation for you.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$20 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Work Injury
$11 Million Truck Accident
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
Why You Need Legal Help Immediately After a Truck Crash
Trucking companies don’t wait to protect themselves after an accident. Their legal teams often arrive at crash scenes before the wreckage is even cleared, working to gather evidence that supports their version of events. Meanwhile, you’re dealing with injuries, medical appointments, and trying to figure out how you’ll pay your bills.
The first 48 hours after a truck accident are critical for preserving evidence. Once hired, our Scranton legal team immediately sends spoliation letters to trucking companies, which legally requires them to preserve driver logs, maintenance records, and data from the truck’s electronic recording device – often called the “black box.” This information can prove driver fatigue, equipment failures, or regulatory violations that caused your crash.
Most personal injury attorneys in Scranton don’t understand the complexities of commercial vehicle regulations or know what evidence to look for. Our 65 years of experience handling these cases means we know exactly how to investigate your accident and build the strongest possible case.
Here’s how we protect your interests:
- We handle all communication with insurance companies so you can focus on recovery.
- We calculate the true value of your case, including future medical costs and lost earning capacity that insurance adjusters often ignore.
- We hire accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals when needed to strengthen your claim.
- We gather witness statements and obtain police reports while memories are fresh.
- If negotiations fail, we’re prepared to take your case to trial.
With 65 years of experience in these complex cases, we know how to get results when it matters most.
Scranton Truck Accidents By the Numbers
Commercial vehicle accidents are a serious problem throughout our region. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Lackawanna County recorded 154 truck accidents in 2023 – a troubling 7% increase over 2022. More than one-third of these crashes occurred here in Scranton, affecting dozens of local families.
These numbers aren’t surprising when you consider where we are located. Interstate 81 runs directly through the Electric City, bringing thousands of commercial vehicles through our Scranton community daily. This central transportation corridor is one of Pennsylvania’s most dangerous for truck accidents.
Local roads create additional hazards for both truckers and passenger vehicles. Route 6’s steep grades and sharp curves become treacherous during Scranton’s harsh winter months. The North Scranton Expressway frequently experiences heavy congestion and has limited visibility in several sections, creating dangerous conditions when large trucks mix with commuter traffic.
Within Scranton, narrow city streets force commercial vehicles onto roads not designed for 80,000-pound trucks. These challenging conditions contribute to accidents that could have been prevented with proper planning and careful driving.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident anywhere in Scranton, either as a passenger, a car driver, or a truck driver, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact our experienced Scranton 18-wheeler accident attorneys today to discuss your case.
Speak with a Scranton truck accident lawyer near me.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Crash in Scranton?
After a serious truck accident, Scranton residents are entitled to compensation that covers their financial losses and the personal impact of this crash on their lives. Pennsylvania law recognizes three types of damages, and understanding each one is essential for getting the full compensation you deserve.
Your Financial Losses
Economic damages cover the measurable costs of your accident. This includes all your medical expenses – not just what you’ve paid, but future treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any medical equipment you’ll need. You can also recover lost wages from time off work and reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job.
Property damage to your vehicle and any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the crash are also covered. Our Scranton attorneys carefully document every financial impact to ensure nothing gets overlooked.
The Personal Impact
Non-economic damages recognize that some losses can’t be measured in dollars and cents. The physical pain you’re experiencing, the emotional trauma from the accident, and how your injuries have affected your daily life all deserve compensation.
If you can no longer enjoy activities you once loved, if your relationships have suffered, or if you’re dealing with driving anxiety, these impacts matter. Disfigurement, scarring, and the loss of consortium with your spouse are also considered when calculating your compensation.
When Companies Act Recklessly
Punitive damages may apply in cases involving hazardous behavior, like a trucking company forcing drivers to violate safety regulations or a driver operating under the influence. These awards compensate you further and clearly show that such reckless conduct won’t be tolerated.
The total value of your case depends on your specific circumstances, but our goal is always to secure compensation that truly reflects the full impact this accident has had on your life.
Who is Responsible for Your Commercial Truck Accident?
Unlike typical car accidents involving individual drivers, truck accidents often involve multiple parties who share responsibility for what happened. This complexity can work in your favor – it means there are more sources of compensation available, but it also requires experienced legal representation to identify all potentially liable parties.
The most obvious parties are the truck driver who caused the accident and their employer. Under Pennsylvania law, trucking companies are generally responsible for their drivers’ actions while on the job. However, companies often try to classify drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability, so you need Scranton attorneys who know how to pierce these corporate defenses.
Many other parties may have contributed to your accident. If poor maintenance caused a brake failure or tire blowout, the company responsible for servicing the truck could be liable. When cargo isn’t properly loaded or secured, the loading company may share fault. Third-party brokers who arrange shipments sometimes choose unreliable carriers or push unrealistic delivery schedules that encourage unsafe driving.
Vehicle manufacturers can be held responsible when defective parts contribute to accidents. Even government entities may be liable if poor road design or inadequate signage played a role in your crash.
Why This Matters to You
Identifying all responsible parties isn’t just an academic exercise – it’s about maximizing your compensation. Each liable party typically carries their insurance coverage, which means more resources are available to cover your damages. Our investigation begins immediately to uncover every potential source of recovery while the evidence is still fresh.
We handle these complex cases daily and know where to look for evidence and which parties to investigate. Don’t let anyone escape responsibility for the injuries they caused.
There is no fee unless we win.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Scranton?
Most truck accidents throughout the Scranton area stem from preventable negligence, whether by drivers who ignore safety rules or companies prioritizing profits over public safety. Understanding these common causes can help you recognize if similar factors contributed to your crash.
Driver Fatigue and Hours Violations
Drowsy driving remains one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Federal regulations limit how long drivers can operate without rest, but trucking companies often pressure drivers to exceed these limits to meet unrealistic delivery schedules. When drivers push past their legal driving hours, fatigue and sleep deprivation significantly increase the likelihood of serious or even fatal truck accidents.
Impaired and Distracted Driving
Commercial drivers face stricter blood alcohol limits than regular drivers, yet some still operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even momentary distractions – checking phones, adjusting GPS systems, or eating while driving – can have devastating consequences when you’re controlling an 80,000-pound vehicle.
Equipment and Maintenance Failures
When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance to save money, the results can be deadly. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other equipment malfunctions create serious hazards for everyone on the road. Companies are required to maintain their fleets properly and conduct regular inspections, but some ignore these requirements until it’s too late.
Cargo and Loading Issues
Overloaded trucks or improperly secured cargo significantly increase accident risks. When cargo shifts during transport or trucks exceed weight limits, drivers lose control more easily. Loading companies and truckers must follow specific protocols for securing freight, but violations of these rules are unfortunately common.
Speed and Aggressive Driving
Excessive speeding makes it impossible for truck drivers to stop safely or navigate turns properly. Some drivers engage in aggressive behaviors like tailgating, unsafe passing, or failing to check blind spots – actions that are especially dangerous given the size and weight of commercial vehicles.
The common thread in most cases is that someone chose convenience or profit over safety. Whether it’s a driver cutting corners or a company ignoring regulations, these decisions have serious consequences for innocent Scranton residents sharing the road.
Why Truck Accidents Are So Devastating
The physics are simple but brutal: When an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer collides with a 4,000-pound passenger car, the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the impact. Commercial trucks can weigh 20 times more than your car, and that massive weight difference means even relatively low-speed crashes can cause catastrophic injuries or death.
Beyond their enormous weight, trucks present unique dangers that passenger vehicles don’t. Their higher ground clearance can cause smaller cars to slide underneath during collisions. Their longer stopping distances mean truck drivers need much more time and space to avoid accidents. When trucks jackknife or roll over, they can affect multiple lanes of traffic and involve several other vehicles.
Because of these inherent dangers, federal law imposes strict requirements on commercial drivers and trucking companies. Drivers must follow hours-of-service rules that limit how long they can drive without mandatory rest breaks. Every truck must be equipped with electronic logging devices that track driver hours and vehicle movement, making it harder for drivers to falsify their logbooks.
Trucking companies must maintain detailed maintenance records and conduct regular vehicle inspections. Drivers need special training for handling hazardous materials and properly securing cargo loads. Commercial vehicles must carry much higher insurance coverage than passenger cars – often $1 million or more – because accidents involving trucks typically result in much more severe damages.
Weight and height restrictions exist to keep oversized loads off roads that can’t safely accommodate them. Despite all these regulations, violations are common when companies prioritize schedules and profits over safety.
These size and weight differences translate into life-changing injuries for truck accident victims. While fender-benders between cars might result in minor injuries, similar impacts involving trucks often cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and other severe trauma that requires years of treatment and rehabilitation.
Understanding these realities helps explain why truck accident cases are more complex and why you need Scranton attorneys who specialize in commercial vehicle litigation.
What You Need to Know About Your Injuries
After a truck accident, understanding your injuries and their potential long-term impact is important for both your health and your legal case. Many Scranton accident victims make critical mistakes in the days and weeks following their crash that can affect their recovery and compensation.
Some Injuries Don’t Show Up Immediately
Adrenaline and shock can mask serious injuries in the immediate aftermath of a truck accident. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage may not cause obvious symptoms for hours or even days. This is why it’s essential to seek medical attention right away, even if you feel “fine” at the scene.
Insurance adjusters know about delayed symptoms and will use any gap in medical treatment against you. If you wait several days to see a doctor, they’ll argue your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.
Keep Detailed Records of Everything
Document your pain levels, limitations, and how your injuries affect your daily activities. Insurance companies will scrutinize your medical records, looking for inconsistencies or signs that you’re exaggerating your condition. Being thorough and honest with your healthcare providers creates a clear picture of your injury progression.
Don’t skip appointments or stop treatment early, even if you’re feeling better. Many truck accident injuries require ongoing care, and stopping treatment prematurely can be used to argue that you weren’t as badly hurt as you claim.
Watch for Signs of Serious Complications
Certain symptoms require immediate medical attention and shouldn’t be ignored: persistent headaches, confusion or memory problems, increasing pain rather than gradual improvement, numbness or tingling in extremities, or difficulty with balance or coordination. These can indicate serious injuries that worsen without proper treatment.
Be Honest About Pre-Existing Conditions
If you had previous injuries or health problems, don’t try to hide them from your doctors or attorneys. Insurance companies will discover your medical history anyway, and being dishonest only hurts your credibility. A good attorney can still recover compensation for worsening pre-existing conditions – the trucking company takes you as they find you.
Understanding Future Medical Needs
Some injuries from truck accidents require lifelong care, multiple surgeries, or ongoing rehabilitation. Your immediate medical bills are just the beginning – your legal case must account for future treatment costs, potential complications, and permanent limitations that affect your earning capacity.
Don’t accept any settlement offers until your doctors can give a clear prognosis about your long-term recovery. Insurance companies often push for quick settlements before the full extent of injuries becomes apparent.
What To Do If the Trucking Company’s Insurance Company Calls
Following the accident, you may receive a call from the trucking company’s insurance company. Refusing to speak with them is advisable until you have hired a truck accident attorney. However, if you do engage in conversation, keep the following tips in mind:
- Do not agree to provide a recorded statement or sign any forms sent by the trucking company or its insurance carrier.
- You are not obligated to disclose any information about the accident. Keep your comments brief and stick to the facts if pressured to speak.
- Avoid discussing your injuries, medical treatment, or losses in detail.
Contact our truck accident lawyers in Scranton as soon as possible for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys will review any paperwork sent to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Scranton
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer in Scranton?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. We also cover all case expenses during the legal process, so you’re never out of pocket for things like expert witnesses, medical record retrieval, or court filing fees. You only pay if we recover compensation for you.
Is there a statute of limitations for my truck accident claim?
The statute of limitations for an accident claim in Pennsylvania is two years. However, waiting too long can result in crucial evidence disappearing, such as maintenance logs, drivers’ schedules, timesheets, and witness statements. In your best interest, promptly contact experienced Scranton truck crash attorneys to initiate the claims process.
What if I was hurt as a passenger?
As a passenger, you can pursue compensation from multiple insurance policies, including the trucking company’s commercial liability coverage, the driver’s personal insurance, and potentially other vehicles involved in the crash. Since you had no control over the vehicle operation, establishing liability is more straightforward than cases involving multiple drivers. We know how to navigate these defenses and maximize your recovery from all available sources.
How long will my case take?
Some cases settle within months, while complex cases with severe injuries may take longer. Complex cases take longer to conclude because we need time to understand the full extent of your damages and build the strongest possible case. We keep you informed throughout and never settle for less than what your case is worth.
Can I handle my truck accident case without a lawyer?
While you’re not legally required to hire an attorney, truck accident cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance companies with experienced legal teams. These cases are fundamentally different from typical car accidents. Insurance companies know that unrepresented victims often accept far less compensation than their cases are worth.
Contact Our Scranton Truck Accident Law Firm Now
Contact us today if you or your loved one requires aggressive legal representation for a truck injury case. Our consultation is always free, and we will fight on your behalf to secure compensation. We only get paid if we win your accident case.
Contact Munley Law now to speak with an experienced Scranton truck accident lawyer.
Serving truck accident victims throughout Scranton and the surrounding northeastern Pennsylvania communities.
