Defendant

What is a Defendant?

In civil or criminal law, a defendant is an individual being sued or accused of committing a crime.

What is a Defendant?

According to Black’s Law Dictionary, a defendant is “A person against whom relief or recovery is sought in an action or suit.” As such, in criminal cases, defendants are charged with offenses by the government or state, while in civil cases, they are typically sued by plaintiffs seeking compensation or other legal remedies. The role of a defendant is to defend themselves against the accusations brought forth by the prosecution or plaintiff. For example, in insurance law, a defendant would be the person who caused an injury, such as hurting someone in a car accident, along with their insurance company.

In legal contexts, defendants enjoy certain rights, such as the right to a fair trial, the right to legal representation, and the right to present a defense. These rights ensure that the legal process remains just and balanced. For instance, in criminal cases, defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This presumption places the burden of proof on the prosecution to demonstrate the defendant’s guilt.

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Can You Sue For Wrongful Death In A Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Losing someone you love in a motorcycle accident raises the question of whether you can sue for wrongful death. In many cases, the answer is yes, you can sue for wrongful death in a motorcycle accident claim, if another person or party’s actions caused the accident and your family’s loss.

Your motorcycle accident lawyer with Munley Law can explain how these claims work, what proof is needed, and how we can help your family pursue the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. There is no fee for our services unless we win your case.

Speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer today.

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When a Motorcycle Crash Becomes Grounds for a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, […]

$2 Million Fatal Truck Accident Verdict

A jury awarded $2 million to our clients, the estate of a car accident victim whose fatal crash was caused by a reckless truck driver in an oversized and unpermitted tractor trailer.

According to the case facts, the victim was struck by a tractor trailer making a reckless left-hand turn from a stop sign. The force of the impact caused the victim’s car to roll over on the driver’s side, entrapping the driver. The driver suffered an immediate and extensive traumatic injury, resulting in his death.

He left behind a wife and child. The victim’s wife lost not only her husband but future income and benefits with his death.

Representing the plaintiff’s estate and the victim’s wife, the tuck accident attorneys at Munley Law made the case that the semi-tractor trailer was oversized and overweight and that the defendant did not have the necessary state permits to operate the vehicle. […]

$3 Million Product Liability Settlement

Partner Daniel Munley was able to reach a $3 million product liability settlement with an industrial manufacturer for our client, a young man whose arm was amputated after being caught between components of a dangerously modified piece of box-crushing equipment.

Our client and his co-worker were compacting cardboard boxes for recycling with a mechanical baler at the distribution center where they worked. The machine was improperly assembled with the chamber door on the wrong side—the manufacturer was supposed to ensure that the control panel must be located on the same side as the chamber door and latch plate to give an operator a clear view. When his co-worker operated the control panel, he could not see or locate our client and closed the latch plate, crushing and amputating the plaintiff’s dominant left arm.

Daniel Munley showed that the manufacturer not only redesigned the baler machine to fit in the customer’s facility by choosing an unsafe configuration but did so knowingly, […]

Boat Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a boating or water sports accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have cause to pursue legal action. As the injured victim, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical treatment, missed time from work, and pain and suffering. However, you will likely need a boat accident lawyer who has the experience and legal acumen to get you the full compensation that you deserve.

For more than 65 years, the boat accident lawyers of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have helped clients throughout Pennsylvania. Our boating injury attorneys have earned national recognition for their work on behalf of injured victims. We have been named among the Best Lawyers in America, and have received the highest possible peer and client review ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. Contact a boating accident lawyer now for a consultation free of charge. […]

Frequent Asked Questions About Car Accidents

The car accident lawyers at Munley Law understand that legal matters can be complex and sometimes overwhelming following a car crash. You may find that you have more questions than you do answers. So, we’ve created this resource to provide clear, straightforward information about what to expect after a car accident and how our auto accident attorney can help.

Contact Munley Law now to schedule a free consultation if you were involved in a car accident.

Q: If I’ve Been in a Car Accident, do I Need a Lawyer?

car accident lawyers A: It depends. If you did not suffer any injuries in the accident, you may settle your insurance claim without legal help. However, the claim becomes more complicated if you or someone you know were injured in the accident. As the injured victim, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party for your medical costs, […]