Munley Law Blog

Who’s Liable for an Elevator Accident in PA?

When an elevator accident causes an injury, responsibility often extends beyond the building owner. Maintenance contractors and equipment manufacturers can also face liability, depending on what caused the accident.

Under Pennsylvania law, identifying the responsible party means determining who had a duty to keep the elevator safe and where that responsibility broke down.

Who Has a Legal Responsibility for Elevator Safety?

Elevator safety involves several parties, each with different obligations. 

A building owner may oversee the equipment, while an outside company handles maintenance. Manufacturers and specialist contractors also have responsibilities that may become relevant after an accident.

Building Owners and Property Managers

Under Pennsylvania premises liability law, building owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions for people using their elevators. Property managers can share that responsibility, particularly when they oversee maintenance or receive complaints about faulty equipment. […]

Electric Bike Accident Statistics in Pennsylvania Are Climbing as E-Bikes Grow More Popular

E-bikes are changing how Pennsylvanians travel, with more people using them for everyday journeys and recreational cycling. However, their increasing popularity has been accompanied by a rise in serious accidents, bringing greater attention to rider safety.

Recent electric bike accident statistics highlight growing concerns about collisions involving these vehicles and whether Pennsylvania’s existing safety regulations are keeping pace with their increasing use.

Have E-Bike Injuries and Fatalities Increased in Pennsylvania?

Electric bike accident statistics point to a sharp increase in injuries and deaths across Pennsylvania.

PennDOT data shows that e-bike rider injuries increased by 40% between 2024 and 2025, while fatalities rose dramatically, from two to 12. Those 12 deaths accounted for nearly 43% of the 28 bicyclist fatalities recorded on Pennsylvania roads in 2025, according to PennDOT’s traffic fatality report. The increase is particularly concerning because Pennsylvania’s overall traffic fatalities declined during the same period. […]

What Pennsylvania’s New CDL Mill Crackdown Means for Truck Accident Victims

Pennsylvania’s new crackdown on CDL mills could have important implications for truck accident victims, particularly when inadequate driver training contributes to a crash.

New legislation introduces significantly higher penalties for unlicensed commercial driver training providers, raising questions about driver qualifications and whether trucking companies are doing enough to ensure their drivers are properly trained.

What Are CDL Mills?

CDL mills are unlicensed commercial driver training schools that bypass the rules governing the training of new truck drivers. Some provide inadequate instruction or falsely certify that students have completed the required training.

Before obtaining certain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), drivers must complete entry-level training that meets federal standards. This includes classroom instruction and practical, behind-the-wheel training. Training schools must also comply with applicable state licensing requirements.

The problem with CDL mills is that drivers can end up behind the wheel of a large commercial truck without the skills or experience to operate it safely. […]

Weird Laws in New York

The state of New York has many laws, and many of them are rather odd. Some seem to come from another century, a few are oddly specific, and several sound made up, but they are real and can still get you a ticket.

Here’s a look at some of the weird laws New York has had on its books, which ones are still enforced, and why some of them are important if you’re ever in an accident.

Adultery Was a Crime Until 2024

For more than 100 years, cheating on your spouse was a crime in New York. Adultery was a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail. The law, dating to 1907, was enforced only a handful of times in recent decades. Lawmakers finally repealed it in 2024.

Wearing a Mask in Public Used to Be Illegal

Before 2020, […]

Why Reddit Legal Advice Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Case

The moments after an accident can be nerve-racking, with questions racing through your mind. Should you talk to the insurance company? Who will cover your medical bills? What happens if you’re found at fault? And what if your injuries prevent you from working?

When looking for answers, you may turn to the internet for guidance and find yourself on Reddit’s r/legaladvice, reading about how others have handled similar situations. While communities like this can offer useful perspectives and support, following advice from strangers online could hurt your personal injury case.

Can You Trust Reddit Legal Advice?

No, you shouldn’t trust legal advice from Reddit. The people who answer your question are anonymous. They may not be personal injury attorneys or have the legal background and credentials needed to answer your question. And if they are attorneys, they only know the facts of the case from what you posted online. […]

Truck Accident Lawyer Katie Nealon Published in Advocate Magazine

Munley Law attorney Katie Nealon has been published in the August 2026 issue of Advocate magazine, the journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California.

In her article, “Using technology to investigate truck crashes,” Katie breaks down a two-phase approach to modern truck crash investigation. Phase one covers securing evidence immediately, sending preservation letters to the trucking company and driver, covering everything from driver logs and maintenance records to cell phones and other electronics before anything gets deleted. Phase two covers the online investigation, researching the trucking company through its website, SAFER records, and social media, while also digging into the driver’s social media, blogs, and podcasts for admissions, safety violations, or evidence of distracted or reckless driving habits.

Katie is board-certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. She has been named to Best Lawyers in America since 2025. […]

What Happens If I Reject a Personal Injury Settlement Offer?

Rejecting a settlement offer doesn’t end your case; it advances it. Insurance companies often make low settlement offers, hoping you’ll accept less than your claim is worth, but you have every right to say no. When you reject an offer, negotiations continue, or your case may go to trial. This decision carries real consequences, both positive and negative. Understanding what happens next helps you negotiate from a position of strength and make the choice that’s right for your situation.

After rejecting a settlement offer, it’s essential to understand what comes next. Negotiations can continue, and the different laws may affect how your case progresses. Knowing these steps helps you make informed decisions about protecting your rights.

If you have questions about a personal injury settlement offer, your first step is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Munley Law has over 65 years of experience walking our clients through settlement offers. […]

How Long Does it Take to Receive My Personal Injury Settlement?

Most personal injury cases settle within three months to two years from the date of injury, depending on the complexity of the case and the severity of your injuries. Once you reach a settlement and sign the release forms, receiving your check normally takes another three to 12 weeks while your attorney clears the funds, resolves any medical liens, and finalizes the accounting.

The two timelines get confused often. If you are asking how long until your case settles, the answer depends on your case. If you are asking how long it will take after settlement to receive your payment, the realistic range is 3 to 12 weeks.

To help you understand more about the process, we’ve created this guide so that you can plan financially and know what to expect after your case settles. Our award-winning personal injury lawyers have over 250 years of combined experience and have secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, […]

Weird Laws in PA

Laws often reflect the times and values of the era in which they were written. As such, many states have outdated laws, some of which are still on the books, that may seem unusual to us today. And Pennsylvania is no exception.

Weird laws in Pennsylvania serve as a reminder that the law is complex. That means having professional legal assistance is quite valuable when you’re facing a legal situation you’re unfamiliar with. When you have been injured because of the negligence of others,  contact our Pennsylvania personal injury team at Munley Law today for a free consultation.

Weird Pennsylvania Laws

Although the following Pennsylvania laws applying to traffic and vehicles may not be all that well-known, they’re still on the books:

• No car purchases on Sundays: The prohibition on buying or selling a car on Sunday is a holdover from “Blue laws,” […]

Can Pittsburgh Families Recover After an Injury From a Defective or Recalled Product?

Pittsburgh families can recover damages for injuries caused by a defective or recalled product. They can do this by filing a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer responsible for putting a dangerous product on the market, whether or not a recall was issued.

A recall notice can strengthen a claim, but its absence doesn’t end one. Many defective products injure people well before a manufacturer acknowledges a problem. However, many Allegheny County families dealing with a serious injury from a faulty appliance, tool, vehicle part, or piece of equipment often assume they have no case simply because the product was never formally recalled.

What Makes a Product Legally Defective in Pennsylvania?

A product may be legally defective for one of three reasons.

It may have a:

• Design flaw that makes the entire product line unreasonably dangerous
• Manufacturing defect affecting a specific unit
• Inadequate warnings about a risk that the manufacturer knew about but failed to disclose

A design defect affects every unit made to that design, […]

Is an Uber or Lyft Driver Considered a Commercial Driver in New York?

New York doesn’t require Uber or Lyft drivers to hold a commercial driver’s license, as these drivers operate their own personal vehicles rather than taxis or livery vehicles. Instead, the state classifies Uber and Lyft as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) under a specific law that took effect in 2017.

Because rideshare drivers fall under a different insurance framework, a Binghamton rideshare accident claim often follows very different rules than a standard car accident case.

What’s the Difference Between a Commercial Driver and a TNC Driver?

A TNC driver uses their own car and their own personal license. They only activate commercial-level insurance coverage through the rideshare company’s policy while actively working through the app. This differs from a livery or limousine driver, who operates under a different regulatory category with its own licensing requirements.

This distinction is important because it impacts which insurance policy responds first after a crash, […]

How Effective Is Automatic Emergency Braking in a Commercial Truck?

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) has become one of the most promising safety technologies in modern vehicles. Designed to detect an impending collision and automatically apply the brakes if the driver fails to react, AEB has been shown to reduce rear-end crashes in passenger cars, and it’s increasingly making its way into commercial trucks.

But while AEB can help prevent some accidents, it’s not a substitute for safe driving. Like any technology, it has limitations, and serious truck accidents can still occur when drivers, trucking companies, or equipment manufacturers fail to do their part.

If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident, understanding how AEB works and when it should have prevented a crash can be an important part of determining liability.

What is Automatic Emergency Braking?

Automatic Emergency Braking is an advanced driver assistance system that uses sensors, cameras, radar, or a combination of technologies to monitor traffic ahead of a vehicle. […]

How Can an Atlanta Family Recognize and Report Nursing Home Medication Errors?

Medication errors are one of the hardest-to-catch forms of nursing home neglect because the signs often look like normal aging rather than a mistake. To determine whether a nursing home resident has been given the wrong medication or is missing a scheduled dose, family members need to keep a close eye on their loved one to notice the signs of neglect.

If you believe your loved one is the victim of a medication error, there are steps you can take. Contact the Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyers at Munley Law for a free consultation.

What Counts as a Medication Error in a Georgia Nursing Home?

A medication error covers more ground than most families expect. Common examples include:

• Administering the wrong drug entirely
• Giving a correct drug at the wrong dose
• Missing a scheduled dose
• Failing to account for a dangerous interaction between two prescription medications that a resident is taking at once

Poor recordkeeping is often the root cause, […]

Marion Munley Sworn in as President-Elect of the American Association for Justice

Marion Munley, Partner at Munley Law, was sworn in as President-Elect of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) on July 27, 2026. Marion was elected as a national officer for the AAJ in 2022 after over a decade of dedicated service to the Association. Marion became the first woman to serve as Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is also a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus.

Her leadership in the AAJ has been recognized with many service awards, including the Above and Beyond Award in 2018, 2019, and 2021; the Distinguished Service Award in 2020 and 2021; and the Marie Lambert Award in 2020. In 2020, she was one of the first recipients of the Robert W. Munley Pursuit of Justice Award by the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group.

The American Association for Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys whose mission is to protect the right to trial by jury. […]

How Do Center City Construction Accidents Lead to Catastrophic Injuries in Philadelphia?

Center City construction accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries in Philadelphia. The most common causes of these accidents include falls from scaffolding or unfinished floors, being struck by falling materials or equipment, and crane or hoist failures on the dense high-rise construction sites that define the neighborhood’s skyline.

Philadelphia construction sites operate in some of the tightest urban footprints in Pennsylvania, with cranes swinging loads over sidewalks and scaffolding rising directly next to active streets. This density means a single safety failure doesn’t just endanger the worker on site; it can catastrophically injure a pedestrian, a delivery driver, or anyone else within reach of the site.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries on Philadelphia Construction Sites?

Falls remain the leading cause of catastrophic construction injury nationwide. Center City’s high-rise projects multiply the risk since a fall from an upper floor or scaffold level carries far greater force than a fall on level ground. […]

What Should Cyclists Know About Summer Accidents on the Schuylkill River Trail?

Summer brings the trail’s heaviest use of the year, packing it with joggers, families with strollers, e-bikes, and serious cyclists all at once. This mix of speeds and skill levels is where most preventable trail accidents occur, and determining who’s responsible when one happens isn’t always straightforward.

What Kinds of Accidents Happen Most Often on the Schuylkill River Trail in Summer?

In summer, the most common accidents on the Schuylkill River Trail near Reading are collisions between cyclists and pedestrians or other cyclists, falls caused by tree roots, erosion, or debris on the trail surface. Crashes at points where the trail crosses local roads are also common.

Berks County’s stretch of the trail experiences a sharp increase in foot and bike traffic once school lets out, with families, joggers, and cyclists of very different speeds sharing a path that’s often only wide enough for two or three people to pass comfortably. […]

How Can Families Spot Summer Heat Neglect in Lehigh County Nursing Homes?

Older adults, especially those on certain heart or blood pressure medications, lose the ability to cool themselves as effectively as younger people. This means that a nursing home’s air conditioning failure or understaffing during a heat wave can turn into a medical emergency faster than families expect.

Knowing what to look for and what the facility is legally required to do makes it possible to catch a problem before it becomes a crisis.

What Are the Early Signs of Heat-Related Neglect in a Nursing Home Resident?

The early signs of heat-related neglect include:

• Flushed or unusually dry skin
• Confusion or sudden agitation
• A fast or weak pulse
• Heavy sweating that stops suddenly

Dehydration often accompanies heat stress and can be harder to spot in residents with limited mobility or communication abilities. […]

What Can a Wilkes-Barre Family Recover After a Fatal Distribution Center Accident?

Depending on the cause of the accident, a Wilkes-Barre family can file two claims after a loved one dies in a distribution center accident: a workers’ compensation claim and a wrongful death lawsuit against any third party whose negligence contributed to the crash.

Luzerne County’s distribution corridor along I-81 puts thousands of workers inside massive warehouse and fulfillment operations every day, and a fatal accident there rarely involves just one company. Knowing which claim applies and who else might share responsibility often determines how much a grieving family recovers.

Why Can’t a Family Sue the Employer Directly After a Fatal Warehouse Accident in Wilkes-Barre?

In most cases, Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system bars a family from suing the employer directly after a workplace death. In exchange, the employer’s insurance carrier automatically pays death benefits, without the family needing to prove the employer was negligent.

These benefits include a portion of the worker’s average weekly wage paid to a surviving spouse and dependent children, […]

What Are a Scranton Patient’s Options After a Surgical Error at a Lackawanna County Hospital?

Waking up after surgery to discover an unexpected complication can be overwhelming, leaving most patients uncertain about what happened and what to do next. If you believe a surgical error caused your injury, it’s important to understand your legal options as early as possible.

Pennsylvania law provides a specific, time-limited process for pursuing a medical malpractice claim against a surgeon, hospital, or other healthcare provider, and taking prompt action can help protect your rights.

Our Scranton medical malpractice lawyers can review what happened and advise whether you may have a claim.

What Counts as a Surgical Error Under Pennsylvania Law?

A surgical error becomes medical malpractice under Pennsylvania law when a surgeon or surgical team’s conduct falls outside the accepted standard of care and causes harm. 

Common examples include operating on the wrong site or the wrong patient, […]

Survey Reveals: The Most Frustrating Summer Parking Lots in the U.S. [2026]

A summer day rarely begins at the beach, a lake, or on a hike—it almost always begins in the parking lot. The common experience, before even a chair has been unfolded or a cooler opened, is 15 minutes spent crawling around a parking lot looking for a space.

To figure out where this gets worse, Munley Law asked 3,001 drivers about the vacation parking lots where they have encountered the worst behavior and the most stress.

The result is a ranking of 139 destinations across all 50 states, packed oceanfront lots, mountain trailheads, boat ramps, and inland swimming holes, all of it.

Created by Munley Law • View larger version

Key Findings

New York parking lots are the source of most drivers’ frustrations. […]