Scranton 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Our Scranton 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer is Ready to Fight For You

Since 1959, the mission of our Scranton 18 wheeler accident lawyers has been to stand up for the rights of people injured in devastating accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. Our home is in Scranton, and we know Northeast PA.  We are a well-established truck accident law firm, and our Scranton truck accident lawyer will treat you as part of our family. We will work as a team to get you the best possible settlement. We are skilled at winning truck accident claims with large trucking companies, transportation, and insurance companies.

When you contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our Scranton 18-wheeler accident lawyer will evaluate your situation to determine if you have a case.  If you choose Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to represent you, we take your case on a contingency basis and tirelessly work toward getting you the best possible settlement. There are no upfront costs for you. We pay all out-of-pocket costs and take an agreed-upon percentage of what we recover for you.

Call, chat live, or fill out our contact form today for a free case review by an experienced truck accident lawyer in Scranton, PA. We do not charge a fee for our counsel or services unless we win your case.

Why Hire a Scranton 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney From Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?

Not only are truck accidents more serious with the potential for more severe injuries, but truck accident cases involving 18-wheelers are also more complex legally. Truck accidents are entirely different from car accidents, from the major injuries you may sustain in the accident to the number of parties responsible for your injuries. You need a personal injury lawyer in Scranton who has expertise in federal and state trucking laws and is familiar with the ways the trucking company’s attorneys and insurers work loopholes to their client’s advantage.

There are numerous licensing and documentation requirements as well as state and federal regulations on trucks in terms of size, weight and routing limitations, insurance requirements, and driver training. An experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to investigate each of these circumstances, leaving no stone unturned in litigating your case.

When you are the victim of a truck accident, the best way to protect yourself and your family is to consult with an 18 wheeler accident attorney as quickly as possible.  There are many time-sensitive issues that need to be documented and investigated. As soon as the truck accident occurs, the trucking company will immediately dispatch a team of investigators to the scene to gather the evidence needed to prove you were responsible for the truck crash. What you need is a team on your side to protect the evidence from disappearing. When you retain the 18-wheeler accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we immediately start working on your case.

Shortly after the accident, The attorneys for the trucking and insurance companies may hurry to offer you a settlement. While it may be appealing to be speedily compensated, that is not in your best interest. Damages need to be assessed carefully,  and the extent of your losses might not be clear right away. Having an experienced Scranton trucking accident attorney on your side is the best way to ensure that the trucking company won’t take advantage of your vulnerable position.

Here’s How Our 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney Will Protect Your Rights

We’ll preserve evidence at the scene of the wreck, secure the scene of the crash, take photos, and interview witnesses.  It is critical to the success of your case that evidence isn’t altered, lost, or destroyed.  The owner of the 18-wheeler, usually a large company, along with their insurer, will visit the scene of the accident and work diligently to build their defense. With Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys accident lawyers on your side, you are represented by attorneys who are experienced with trucking industry safety regulations and industry standards, state and federal laws, and the insurance loopholes that may trap less knowledgeable attorneys.

Once we’ve documented the scene of the accident and completed a comprehensive review of your case, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’s truck accident attorneys will hire expert witnesses, and deal with the trucking company and their lawyers on your behalf.

We’ll fight to get access to truck maintenance records, the size and type of load the truck was carrying, and other records that are legally required of trucking companies.  In addition, we’ll acquire the driver’s history and training and the GPS and other technology records that might provide insight into the cause of the accident.

We’ll evaluate all the evidence and assess healthcare costs, future expenses, lost wages, long-term impact, and anything else related to the injuries or losses suffered as a result of the 18-wheeler accident. We’ll ensure you get every dollar you deserve.

What Caused Your Scranton, PA 18 Wheeler Accident?

There are many different causes of large truck accidents, but one thing is consistent – truck accidents have the capacity to cause severe injury or death. If a tractor-trailer loses control, it can truly become a weapon.

Due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles, when they collide with a car, truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian, truck accident victims are more likely to suffer major injuries requiring long-term recovery. Among the possible causes of trucking accidents are:

Driver Negligence or Recklessness

A truck driver’s actions can a collision. Also, failure to act in a way that shows a reasonable duty of care to other drivers on the road can demonstrate the driver’s part in causing the accident. Both driver negligence and recklessness may be factors in your accident. Consider some examples:

• Online commerce grows more popular each year. Retail and wholesale goods, raw materials for manufacture, food products and everything in between is moved by commercial trucks in this country. Trucks move America. But with online demands increasing and retailers offering faster and faster shipping speeds and higher inventory turnover, truck drivers can be under greater and greater pressure to drive over the speed limit and ignore traffic regulations to get their load to its destination on time. A truck driver ignoring posted speed limits and traffic conditions can cause devastating accidents resulting in severe injuries for the driver and passengers in passenger vehicles.
• Exhaustion is one of the most common causes of all vehicle accidents. Although there are strict guidelines on how long a truck driver can be on the road, many ignore these rules. Long hours, long runs and strict timetables can force some drivers to skip legally mandated sleep and meal breaks.
• Texting while driving a truck, checking social media or replying to social media messages or eating while driving, looking at paperwork, or taking attention off the road for any reason while driving a truck can cause a fatal or otherwise catastrophic truck accident.

Mechanical Failure

Truck accidents can have a variety of mechanical causes as well. Truck owners/operators and trucking companies are responsible to the public to maintain, inspect and repair their trucks to keep them safe. According to data from a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) report, the majority of factors in 18-wheeler crashes are, in order of frequency:

• Tire/wheel related
• Brake related
• Unsecure trailer/overloaded cargo
• Power train failure
• Total steering system failure
• Trailer hitch/improper towing
• Other failures
• Suspension
• Vehicle lighting related
• Windshield/defective wipers

If a trucking company neglects its obligations to make the required inspections, maintenance, and repairs to its vehicles, they are putting at risk its drivers and everyone else who shares the road with its drivers and equipment.

Negligent truck companies may try to save money by allowing drivers to use large trucks and other equipment that hasn’t been properly maintained.

Neglect in making timely inspections, sticking to a maintenance schedule, or refusing to make necessary repairs can lead to a serious truck accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a Scranton truck accident and you believe mechanical failure might have caused the crash, call Munley today to talk to Northeast PA’s premiere truck accident lawyers. We can help you recover compensation and get your life back.

Failure to Adjust to Weather Conditions

Pennsylvania has four distinct seasons. Unfortunately, shifting weather patterns can affect road conditions. We see low visibility due to rain, fog and snow, icy sleet and frozen, icy roads and sometimes heavy winds. Bad weather can lead to bad accidents, especially when an 18 wheeler is involved. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, about 21 percent (more than 1.2 million) vehicle accidents each year are related to bad weather.

Failure to Inspect Tires and Brakes

Large semi-trucks usually have 18 wheels and a total of 10 air compression brakes. If any of these are not functioning properly, they may cause the truck to lose control or be unable to shop. Maintenance and inspection of large trucks is essential, especially given the amount of mileage put on these large vehicles.

Trucking companies have a legal responsibility to keep their trucks safe

It is the trucking company’s responsibility to make sure that their vehicles are road safe. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers should check their vehicles at the end of every workday and make a report. Furthermore, a full inspection must be completed every 12 months.

If a company fails to make these inspections or keep proper records, it may be held liable for an ensuing accident caused by vehicle malfunction.

Truck accident victims have a right to fair compensation in the event of an 18-wheeler accident. Call us today to discuss how a Scranton 18 wheeler accident lawyer can help determine liability and win you fair compensation for your losses.

Why Do 18 Wheeler Accidents Occur in Scranton, PA?

When you drive on the highways in and around Scranton, you will be sharing the road with 18-wheelers and other large commercial vehicles.  Accidents can be devastating and deadly, especially to those in passenger cars. The larger and heavier the vehicle, the greater the distance needed to stop and the greater the momentum propelling the truck forward.

To put things in perspective, the maximum legal weight for an 18-wheeler is 80,000 pounds or 40 tons. As a result, when a car and an 18-wheeler are in an accident, it is much more likely for those in the car than in the truck to be badly hurt or suffer fatalities than it is for the driver of the truck.  In addition, because cars often carry multiple people, the ratio of victims to accidents is greater than one.

In the Scranton metropolitan area, truck accidents happen for many different reasons, especially during inclement weather. Other causes include distracted driving, congested roads, mechanical failure, and heavy loads. It is critical to stay alert when sharing the road with trucks like 18-wheelers.  Here are some tips on how drivers of passenger vehicles can more safely share the road with 18-wheelers and large trucks:

• Avoid distractions.  Don’t text. Don’t use your phone.  Don’t turn, taking your eyes off the road, to talk to passengers.  These steps make you more aware of possible hazardous situations and give you more time to react to dangers on the road.
• Safely pass 18-wheelers on the left, but do not linger as you pass.  Large, high trucks have a high center of gravity, larger blind spots, and a tendency to sway in windy conditions.  Also, in wet, rainy, or snowy conditions, their spray reduces the passing car’s visibility.
• Don’t cut in front of a truck.  Quick reactions and breaking can create dangerous situations for the trucker and surrounding cars, at times even causing a truck to jackknife.
• Do not tailgate.  You can’t see in front of an 18-wheeler so if there are hazards or quick stops you won’t have adequate time to react.
• 18-wheelers need a lot of room to make a turn.  Give them the space they need. Don’t try to pass while they are turning.

Keeping these tips in mind can save you, your family, and your friends from injury or worse.  However, if you do find yourself involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, contact a truck accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free review of your case.  Call, chat live, or fill out our contact form today. Our accident attorneys do not charge a fee for our counsel or services unless we win your case.

Frequently Asked Questions in Scranton, PA 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Cases

Q: What Can I Do to Protect Myself After an 18 Wheeler Accident in Scranton?

A: The first thing you must do to protect yourself is to find an experienced Scranton truck accident lawyer. Major trucking companies will have expensive resources, which include teams of lawyers and experts prepared to fight against any lawsuit. This is true regardless of how severe your injuries are. If you have been hit by a truck in Scranton, contact an experienced 18 wheeler accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys who will defend your rights and ensure you are fairly compensated.

There are certain steps you must take while still at the scene of a truck accident to protect your claim:

• Remain calm and in your vehicle (unless you need to get out for safety reasons)
• Call 911 (even if you think your accident is minor)
• Seek medical attention for anyone on the scene who has injuries of any kind
• Do not move the vehicles until the police arrive (unless absolutely necessary)
• Do not leave the scene
• Record all the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any parties involved, particularly any witnesses
• Write down the names and badge numbers of any police officers investigating the accident
• Photograph the scene, including vehicles and injuries
• Do not admit fault
• Immediately notify your own insurance company
• Do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police or your own insurance agent or representative; you are not required to give a statement to anyone but the police and your insurance company.

Q: What Should do In the Days After a Scranton 18-Wheeler Accident?

A: Here is what you need to do after a big rig accident:

• Do not sign anything before contacting an 18 wheeler accident lawyer in Scranton, PA. Insurance companies might try and have you sign something, but they do not represent your interests.
• Thoroughly document your injuries. Take photographs in the hospital and when you get home.
• Keep track of all expenses. This includes prescription receipts, mileage for trips to doctors’ offices, physical therapy appointments, and also home care expenses.
• Keep scheduled appointments and follow treatment plans. This shows your active participation in the healing and rehab process.
• Get a copy of the accident report prepared by the police, as well as a property damage valuation from your insurance company.
• Record all visits with doctors and any healthcare providers. Write down any symptoms or pain you experience. Make sure you keep copies of all test results, medications, treatments, and any other medical information
• List all out-of-pocket expenses
• Keep a record of missed work or other activities in which you could not  participate due to your injuries
• Don’t accept a settlement offer until you have consulted with a lawyer

Q: Who Can Be Found At Fault in a Scranton 18 Wheeler Truck Accident?

A: A whole host of parties could be liable in a truck accident. Such as the truck driver, trucking company, owner of the truck/trailer, third party manufacturers, the facility responsible for loading the truck, or even the group responsible for the contents of the trailer.

Every truck accident case in Scranton is unique, so the best way to determine the course of action you should take is to speak with a lawyer. That is why as the top Scranton 18 wheeler accident lawyers, we offer free consultations to our potential clients.

Q: What Can I Receive Compensation for Following a Scranton 18 Wheeler Accident?

A: You may be entitled to receive the following compensation for your personal injury claim:

• Economic damages: Economic compensation refers to any monetary losses you may have experienced because of the accident. This includes but is not limited to medical expenses; lost wages; lost earning capacity; and property damage.
• Non-economic damages: This means a non-financial loss. The most popular type of compensation is pain and suffering, compensation for the physical, mental, and emotional pain you and your family are dealing with because of the accident. Other types of non-economic damages include mental anguish; loss of enjoyment of life; loss of companionship; and loss of consortium in the event of a loved one’s death.

Q: How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a truck accident?

A: For Scranton truck crash cases, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident.

However, you want to contact an attorney as soon as possible following an accident. It’s harder to investigate the details of your case as more and more time passes. Important evidence could be lost or destroyed. Plus, the trucking company will have its own team of investigators and experts on the scene of the crash in order to build their defense immediately. Contact the experienced Scranton truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today for your free consultation.

Q: How much will it cost to hire a Scranton truck accident attorney?

A: All Munley lawyers work on a contingent-fee basis. We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. You will owe us nothing up front or out of your own pocket; we will not get paid until you get paid.

Q: Does my truck accident lawyer in Scranton have enough experience?

Trucking accidents are different from car accidents — instead of dealing with an individual, you may have to go head-to-head with a company to get what you deserve. It’s critical you have a Scranton truck accident lawyer with not just experience, but a winning record against these large companies.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers are ranked as the top in the nation. We have been battling truck companies for our clients for more than 60 years and we’re ready to help you. Call us today.