At Munley Law, our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers have guided hundreds of truck crash victims in Allegheny County through the aftermath of these devastating crashes, securing multi-million dollar verdicts against negligent trucking companies. Our truck accident lawyers aren’t just personal injury attorneys; we’re recognized national leaders in truck litigation.
Since 1959, we’ve fought and won cases against every major trucking company in America, served on the boards of national trucking safety organizations, and helped shape the laws that protect Pittsburgh drivers from dangerous trucking practices. Our attorneys are also routinely honored by the National Trial Lawyers, the American Association for Justice, Best Lawyers, and other respected legal organizations.
Our attorneys understand the complex federal regulations governing the trucking industry, know how to prevent evidence spoliation within the critical 72-hour window after a crash, and have a nationwide network of reconstructionists and industry professionals ready to investigate your personal injury case.
Don’t let the trucking company’s insurance adjusters pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement. Contact Munley Law now for a free, no-obligation consultation with a truck accident attorney who has dedicated their career to fighting for victims like you. We front all litigation costs and only get paid when we win your case.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Why Should You Hire Munley Law for Your Pittsburgh Trucking Accident Case?
Truck accident cases can be quite complex. The weight and height of a tractor trailer can cause severe trauma, and there are more parties involved than in other types of accident cases. In addition, you will need to deal with the trucking company and its driver, and with their insurance company. All these parties have a team of dedicated lawyers to fight your claims and make sure you receive the lowest possible settlement. What you need is an experienced attorney to fight on your behalf and make sure you get compensation
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our truck crash lawyers have more than 250 years of combined experience in winning truck cases. We’re the only Pennsylvania law firm with three attorneys board-certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. We also have the distinction of being the only firm in the United States with two lawyers who have led the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, namely Marion and Daniel Munley.
Both Daniel Munley and Mario Munley, who serve on the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys’ Board of Regents, have been recognized as one of the Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. The association also named all our partners among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. In 2019, the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group renamed the “Chairman’s Award” in honor of our late founder, Robert W. Munley (1930-2019).
This is in recognition of his work as one of the first injury lawyers to focus on truck cases and to treat them differently from other types of auto accidents. Annually, an attorney is recognized for advancing the goals of the group: to educate other attorneys on trucking law matters and to improve highway safety through legal work and advocacy.
Marion Munley and Daniel Munley were the first attorneys to be awarded after it was renamed the Robert W. Munley Award. Marion’s currently the Vice President of the American Association for Justice. All our partners have been named to the Irish Legal 100 list, and they all received AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell.
Among our client victories are $26 million, $19.8 million, $11 million, and $9.9 million truck accident settlements. Get the best legal representation on your side if you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Pittsburgh or wider Allegheny County by choosing Munley Law.
What Types of Accident Cases Involving Truck Drivers Do We Handle?
At Munley Law, our reputation as Pittsburgh’s premier truck crash attorneys stems from almost seven decades of handling complex commercial vehicle crashes throughout Western Pennsylvania. Our understanding of the region’s unique transportation challenges, from the treacherous Squirrel Hill Tunnel to the complex Fort Pitt interchange, allows us to represent victims of any crash involving truck drivers effectively.
Some truck accident cases we handle regularly include:
- Interstate: Pittsburgh’s position as a major transportation hub makes our highways particularly dangerous for passenger vehicles sharing the road with commercial trucks. Our attorneys have successfully represented victims of devastating crashes along I-376’s notorious bottlenecks, multi-vehicle pileups during peak hours on I-79, and jackknife accidents on I-279’s steep downtown approach.
- Hazardous Material Transportation: When tanker trucks carrying hazardous materials crash on Pittsburgh’s highways, the consequences can be catastrophic. Our firm handles complex cases involving chemical spills, fuel tanker explosions, and toxic exposure incidents. We understand the additional regulations governing hazmat transportation and how these impact your case.
- Focused on Commercial Vehicle: In addition to traditional semi-trucks, we handle cases involving every type of commercial vehicle on Pittsburgh’s roads. This includes garbage truck collisions in residential neighborhoods, cement mixer crashes, logging truck crashes in surrounding rural areas, and incidents involving commercial box trucks and delivery vans. Each vehicle type has its own set of regulations and liability considerations.
- Weather-Related Truck Collisions: The local area offers challenging weather conditions, from heavy snow along the Laurel Highlands to dense fog in river valleys, which create particularly hazardous conditions for truck traffic. We handle cases where weather played a role, including jackknife collisions on icy roads, hydroplaning incidents during heavy rains, and visibility-related crashes in fog or snow.
- Truck Driver Fatigue and Distracted Driving Cases: Many serious truck crashes stem from driver fatigue, especially along major routes where truckers push to meet tight deadlines. Our firm investigates hours-of-service violations, drug and alcohol impairment, and other driver conduct issues that lead to accidents. We know how to obtain and analyze electronic logging devices, driver qualification files, and other critical evidence to prove driver negligence.
- Loading Dock and Industrial Area Accidents: The city’s industrial heart continues to beat strong, with busy loading docks and warehouses creating high-risk zones for truck accidents. Our team has extensive experience handling cases involving backing accidents at Strip District warehouses, severe injuries at Hazelwood Green’s loading facilities, and complicated delivery truck incidents in narrow urban corridors.
What Compensation is Available for Victims of Trucking Accidents in Pittsburgh?
Crash victims in Pittsburgh, PA, often face overwhelming financial burdens that can impact their families for generations. At Munley Law, our experienced truck collision attorneys understand the true lifetime costs of catastrophic injuries, and we fight aggressively to secure compensation that reflects the full scope of your losses.
The immediate financial impact of a truck crash extends far beyond initial medical bills. Our personal injury attorneys in Pittsburgh work with professionals to calculate the true cost of your trauma, including future surgeries, ongoing rehabilitation, and long-term care needs. We seek compensation for lost wages and diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work.
The physical pain and emotional trauma of a truck crash often leave deeper scars than the financial losses. Pennsylvania law recognizes your right to compensation for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of life’s pleasures
Our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers help quantify these intangible losses, presenting compelling evidence of how the incident has impacted your daily life, from missing family milestones to giving up beloved hobbies and activities. For married couples, we also pursue compensation for loss of consortium when truck crashes strain spousal relationships.
Who Can Be Held Liable in Truck Accident Cases in Pittsburgh, PA?
When you get into a car crash, chances are there are only one or two parties responsible for the crash — you and/or the other driver. But in a tractor trailer collision, more than one party may be held responsible for your crash.
First is the most obvious: the truck driver. If the trucker acted negligently, they can be held at fault. For example, if the driver had been on the road longer than 15 hours, they would have become tired and fallen asleep behind the wheel, crashing into your vehicle. In this scenario, the truck driver is at fault.
But what if the truck driver was under orders to stay on the road and ignore federal hours of service regulations? If this were the case, the trucking company would be held responsible. Because it forced its employees to ignore regulations, it is just as guilty as the trucker for the collision.
Another party that may be responsible for the truck crash is the manufacturer of the truck. Let’s say the tractor trailer crash was not caused by a fatigued driver but by a faulty truck part. The manufacturer may be liable for your trauma.
There may also be other parties responsible, such as a shipping company, the company that loaded the cargo into the trailer, or a company responsible for hiring a negligent shipper. This is why it’s so important to speak with our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to start to work on your claim and make sure the responsible parties are held accountable for their negligence. Another reason not to delay contacting us is Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations. Under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2), the law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.
It’s important to remember that, under 42 Pa C.S.A. § 7102, Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule may reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault if you are more than 50% responsible for the accident. We will work to minimize any blame attributed to you and ensure you receive the full, fair compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Pittsburgh
What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Car Accident with a Truck?
After a car accident with a truck, you can protect your rights by getting medical treatment as soon as possible, contacting the police to get all the details on record, and gathering as much evidence as you can at the scene. Get contact information from everyone involved in the crash and from witnesses, and take photos and videos of the scene, of the vehicles involved, and of your injuries. Do not admit blame when speaking with the police or with insurance companies, keep a record of all the medical bills you accumulate, and contact a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer.
What Should I Do If the Truck Company’s Insurance Company Contacts Me?
Someone from the trucking company or the insurance company will likely reach out to you before you have the chance to speak with a truck accident lawyer.
Try to avoid speaking with them if you can. If you can’t avoid them, do not agree to make a recorded statement to the trucking company or their insurance carrier. Do not sign any forms sent to you by the trucking company and its insurance carrier. And do not accept any settlement offer until you have had the chance to speak with our truck accident attorneys.
What Should I Do in the Days Following a Truck Accident?
The days following any crash are vital to your case. Not only should you be speaking with a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer about your truck accident claim, but you should also do the following:
- Get a copy of the police report for your crash
- Get a valuation of the property damage from your insurance company
- Keep track of all doctors’ visits and treatment you receive, and keep a journal of any symptoms or pain you experience
- Get copies of all test results, medication prescriptions, treatments, and any other relevant medical information
- Keep a detailed list of any out-of-pocket expenses you incur
- Record days of missed work or other activities/events
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Wreck?
Under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2), you generally have two years from the date of the truck wreck to file a lawsuit. However, it’s best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident, as it’s easy to lose or destroy important pieces of evidence regarding vehicle safety standards and driver logs. It’s best if we can get to work as soon as possible.
Where Do Most Truck Accidents Happen In Pittsburgh?
Truck accidents in Pittsburgh are most commonly reported along major freight and commuter corridors where heavy commercial traffic converges with daily commuter flow. High-risk areas include stretches of I-376 (Parkway East and West), I-79, and I-279, as well as busy junctions near the Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel and the Squirrel Hill interchange. These routes see frequent congestion, sharp merges, and elevation changes, all of which increase the likelihood of collisions involving large trucks.
Contact Our Pittsburgh Truck Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a tractor-trailer crash in Pittsburgh, we will help you with your lawsuit to recover money for your medical costs and other losses. Munley Law represents tractor-trailer crash victims nationwide. With over half a century of experience in trucking law, we understand what needs to be done so you can get compensation from the right parties. We will fight the insurance company and pay all your bills.
Contact our attorneys today. We’ll discuss your legal options for obtaining money for the losses you have suffered in a trucking crash.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley is one of the nation’s most decorated and respected truck accident lawyers. Having contributed to numerous publications and spoken at numerous conferences, she has advocated for truck accident victims nationwide. Marion is Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the NBTA and is the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 – additionally, she was named “Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers” by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Marion has assisted in several landmark truck accident settlements, including a $26 million settlement for a single mother of three who was critically injured when a tractor trailer collided with her car.
