Fatal Truck Accidents in Scranton, PA

If you have lost someone in your life due to a truck accident, you have the right to both justice and fair compensation. While our Scranton truck accident lawyer at Munley can’t undo the pain you’ve experienced, we can fight on your behalf to ensure you secure the damages you deserve. Don’t hesitate–contact our Scranton truck accident lawyer today for a free initial case evaluation. We are ready and waiting to take your call.

Common Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents in Scranton

As with all car accidents, many factors can lead to a fatal truck accident. Some of the most common causes of fatal truck accidents in Scranton, PA include:

• Distracted Driving
• Reckless Driving
• Driving Under the Influence
• Poor Weather Conditions
• Mechanical Failure
• Overloaded Trailers
• Negligence from the Trucking Company
• And more

As you can see, many truck accidents are caused by human error, whether that’s the driver behaving recklessly on the road or a loading company overloading a tractor trailer. But regardless of what causes a truck accident, all victims of fatal crashes deserve to have someone fight on their behalf.

Determining Liability For a Fatal Truck Accident in Scranton, PA

In an accident between two passenger vehicles, figuring out who is at fault is often fairly simple. While there are exceptions, in most cases, fault will fall with one of the drivers, or they may share fault. But in a truck accident case, the number of possibly liable parties increases greatly. Some parties who may be at fault for a truck accident include:

• The truck driver: Of course, the truck driver can be responsible for causing a fatal accident. If the driver was intoxicated, distracted, or driving recklessly and breaking traffic laws in the moments leading up to the collision, they are most likely at fault.
• The trucking company: The trucking company is responsible for hiring, training, and ensuring all drivers and vehicles are fit for the road. If the trucking company puts an untrained or unfit driver on the road, for instance, and an accident occurs, the company may be at fault.
• The loading company: Usually, trucks are loaded by third party loading companies. There are stringent federal regulations about how different items must be packed and tied down on semi trucks and how much cargo can be on any truck. If these rules are broken, an accident can occur. Cargo can fall off the truck into the road, or the car can topple from overload. If an accident occurs because of overloading or improper loading, the loading company could be liable.
• The truck manufacturer: Sometimes, accidents occur because of mechanical failures or defects in the truck; ie, the brakes giving out. If the truck was poorly designed, manufactured, or sold with the knowledge that it was faulty, the manufacturer could be held responsible if an accident occurs.
• The truck’s maintenance company: Trucking companies typically hire designated maintenance companies to handle the upkeep of their fleet. The maintenance company could cause an accident if they knowingly put an unsafe vehicle on the road, or fail to give the vehicle a proper inspection.

Knowing who is at fault in your Scranton truck accident is key to moving forward with your case. In some instances, multiple parties can share responsibility for causing an accident. For example, perhaps there was a mechanical failure on a truck, but one the driver should have been able to correct–the driver was texting while driving and could not react in time to prevent an accident. In such a case, the truck driver and manufacturer can bear some fault.

The length of time it takes to secure a settlement depends significantly on the details of the case. In cases where the injuries are minor, the case may be settled in months. But in more severe cases, including those that cause fatalities, it’s generally a longer timeline. The process can take several years.

Understanding Wrongful Death Suits in Scranton

There is nothing so devastating in life as losing a loved one. The painful reality is that fatal truck accidents do occur, and every year, Scranton residents lose family and friends to these crashes. While trying to process the grief of losing someone, the idea of also trying to understand your legal options can feel extremely overwhelming. Having an experienced Scranton wrongful death lawyer who can guide you step by step is one of the best ways to ensure you secure justice for your lost loved one.

What are your legal options if you lose someone in a fatal truck accident? One path is to file something known as a wrongful death suit. Pennsylvania law defines wrongful death as a death “caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.” In other words, if someone’s reckless, negligent, or illegal action causes a fatality, the deceased party’s family likely has the right to bring about a wrongful death suit. A truck accident involving any negligence would undoubtedly fall under this category.

A wrongful death suit is essentially a personal injury lawsuit in which the party who was harmed is unable to bring their case to court. One essential factor to note is that a wrongful death suit is a civil suit, not a criminal one. If found responsible, the defendant is penalized solely for financial damages, not jail time.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident and are interested in the possibility of filing a wrongful death suit, contact a truck accident attorney at Munley Law today. We are ready and waiting to take your call.

Why You Need to Hire an Experienced Scranton Fatal Trucking Accident Attorney

One of the best ways to ensure success in any truck accident case is to work with an experienced Scranton truck accident attorney. One unique aspect of a truck accident case, as opposed to one involving only passenger vehicles, is that the trucking company itself is involved in many cases. So rather than dealing with another individual, you’re going up against a company. Trucking companies tend to have powerful legal teams behind them who are experienced in handling cases just like yours. Their goal will always be to protect themselves and to pay out as little as possible. You need someone highly familiar with these kinds of accident cases and with a track record of winning them.

Your Scranton semi truck accident lawyer will work tirelessly to gather evidence for you, a crucial step that must be done on time. Evidence may include witness testimony, CCTV footage, the truck driver’s driver history report, vehicle maintenance reports, and more. All of this can be difficult to secure without the aid of a legal professional. Moreover, your truck accident lawyer will be the liaison between you and all other parties involved, so you hardly ever have to deal with them directly. It’s not uncommon for insurance adjusters to call an accident victim just days after the accident, trying to pressure them into accepting an unfairly low settlement. When you work with an attorney, all of this contact happens through them, so you’re never caught off guard or put under pressure.

Additionally, your lawyer will work to negotiate a fair settlement in your case and can even protect you in court if a trial becomes necessary.

Why Choose Munley Law?

Munley Law is a premier Scranton truck accident law firm that works with clients. We have decades of experience advocating for truck accident victims and their families and ensuring they receive the damages they deserve.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, you don’t have to bear that pain alone. We are here to help and fight on your behalf. Contact us today for a free initial case evaluation. We are ready and waiting to take your call.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

227 Penn Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
(570)865-4699