Truck Accident Lawyers Semi Truck Lawyers - Munley Law ® (2023)

Have you been injured in an accident involving a semi-trailer or a tractor-trailer?
Find out how our truck accident attorneys can help.

this onetruck accident attorneyThe personal injury attorneys at Munley Law are nationally recognized as leaders in auto accident law. No company has more experience or success helping truck accident victims get the justice they deserve. We have obtained over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are committed to getting you and your family the compensation you need to get your life back.

Our truck accident attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for truck injury victims

When you are involved in a car accident with a semi-automatic vehicle, you need to know that your case is in the best hands. Commercial truck and tractor trailer accidents can be more damaging and complex than ordinary car accidents. That's why these cases can only be handled by trucking attorneys with decades of experience and a successful track record in commercial trucking injury cases.

The personal injury attorneys at Munley Law are unique because our semi truck accident attorneys are specifically focused on these complex, well-defended cases. For more than 60 years, our nationwide trucking attorneys have been going head-to-head with major carriers to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for those injured by the company's negligent actions. Our accident attorneys are dedicated professionals who actively seek justice for injured clients; every member of our law firm has extensive experience in trucking cases.

Content

• Why Choose Our Truck Accident Lawyers?
• What can a truck accident attorney do for you?
• What do trucking lawyers advise me after an accident?
• How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
• What are the common causes of truck accidents?
• How is compensation calculated after a truck collision?
• Who is responsible for my accident?
• How is negligence determined after a collision?
• What is a black box and why is it important after a truck accident?
• Contact a truck accident attorney today

Why Choose Our Semi Truck Accident Lawyers?

Our truck accident attorneys are nationally recognized as experts in the industry.Marion Munleyshe was the first woman president of the American Association of Truck Litigation Panels, andDaniel MunleyHe was the president in 2011-2012. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is the only firm in the United States with two of our attorneys leading the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group. Daniel Munley and Marion Munley are among the few attorneys in the country certified by the National Trial Advocacy Board Truck Accident Law Board, an award given only to truck accident attorneys who demonstrate high standards of expertise and integrity. The pair were also named among the Top 10 Truck Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

In 2019, the American Association for JusticeFreight Disputes GroupRenamed the Chairman's Award in honor of Robert W. Munley (1930-2019), because he was one of the first lawyers to specialize in truck accident cases and treat them differently from other types of automobile accidents. The award is presented annually to an attorney who has advanced the group's goals: educating other attorneys about trucking legal matters and improving highway safety through legal work and advocacy. Marion Munley and Daniel Munley are the first attorneys to receive the award, which has been renamed the Robert W. Munley Award in honor of their father and the founder of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.

Our personal injury attorneys are consistently ranked among the Best Lawyers of America (Best Lawyers by Law Guide), Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (Penn Magazine), Best Law Firms (U.S. News & World Report), and are a million and multi-million dollar lawyer forum. Our trucking accident attorneys are considered experts in the industry and are often called upon to speak at events across the country to discuss the latest changes and trends in trucking law. Let us put our expertise to work for you.

If you are injured and cannot come to us, our attorneys can travel to meet with you wherever you are. We understand that this is a difficult time in your life and we will do everything we can to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve after a truck accident.

What do truck accident lawyers do?

A truck accident attorney can handle every aspect of your personal injury claim and make sure you get the compensation you need. Personal injury cases require thorough investigations, expert opinions, and creative use of the post-lawsuit discovery process.

Collecting evidence on the spot

Timely investigation of the accident scene is crucial. The trucking company will quickly send its own investigators to collect evidence after learning of the accident. This evidence can disappear quickly before anyone has a chance to look at it. You need a team to save him before he disappears.

Our team of workplace investigators will respond to the scene of the accident as soon as possible. Our team will document skid marks, debris and oil, gas and coolant stains on site. Our investigators will also obtain police reports, motor vehicle records, witness statements, photographs and security records. We will protect the "black box", an electronic recording device that contains important gender information.

Obtaining evidence for your case is simply impossible. A request must be sent to obtain the information needed to prove your case. Only the best truck accident attorneys can do that. Contact our accident attorneys today for a free consultation.

Use of expert witnesses in truck accident cases

Our personal injury attorneys have longstanding relationships with transportation industry experts and investigators. These experts can review the facts of your case and help us develop a winning trial strategy. Additional experts, including engineers, medical experts, economists and accident reconstructionists, will work with us to provide you with the strongest case.

Not all law firms have access to this type of expert. But because we've been helping injury victims for more than 60 years, our trucking attorneys have built relationships that stand the test of time.

Negotiate with multiple insurance companies

With the collected evidence from the accident scene, our lawyers will be able to determine who is responsible for the accident. Once we've determined liability, we'll start talking to the insurance company on your behalf. Drawing on decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies, our attorneys will ensure you receive the maximum amount available for your claim.

Unfortunately, the negotiations took a long time and in some cases no settlement was possible. If this happens, our experienced truck accident trial attorneys will prosecute the case, ensuring you get a fair trial. We are one of the few law firms in the country that has taken on trucking companies and insurance companies in court and ranked among the best.

What to do after a truck accident

After a traffic accident, it is important to stay calm and call emergency services immediately. The police are obliged to draw up a report, so it is important to stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. If the semi driver leaves the scene of the accident, do not chase him.

While you wait for the ambulance, try to collect evidence from the truck wreck. This includes photos and videos of the accident scene as well as contact information for the truck driver and witnesses. It's also helpful to get contact information for the company the driver works for, as well as the person who owns the semi.

When emergency services arrive, keep statements short and don't admit mistakes. Get the officer's name and badge number and contact the police within a few weeks for a full police report.

Go to the hospital to understand your injury. Remember to make an appointment with your doctor if you decide not to go at that time.

Do not discuss the car accident with anyone except the police, your personal injury attorney, and your insurance agent; you do not have to make a statement to the other driver's insurance company.

As an injury victim, you have a legal right to compensation. However, since trucking accidents often involve multiple responsible parties and insurance companies, getting compensation can be a nightmare. Without a transportation attorney, you will most likely be harassed without a fair settlement.

Trucking companies often have unlimited resources, including teams of truck accident attorneys, who can fight any lawsuit you may file, no matter how serious your injuries. The best way to protect your rights after a truck accident is to speak with your insurance company before speaking with an experienced truck accident attorney at Munley Law who will defend your rights and make sure you receive fair compensation.

There is nothing more destructive than being hit by a truck. Your injuries can be life-threatening, and medical bills can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Your insurance may not cover all of your expenses and it may be difficult for you to return to a normal life. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help.

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Questions and answers about truck accidents

What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

The causes of commercial truck accidents are varied. But when a large vehicle collides with a car, another truck, a motorcycle, or a pedestrian, it almost always results in serious injury or death. When out of control, the sheer size and weight of a large truck make it a deadly weapon.

There are many reasons why large trucks cause truck accidents. The cause is usually the negligence or recklessness of the truck driver or trucker, for example:

• aggressive driving
• distracted driving (ie using a mobile phone)
• Improper driving (i.e. alcohol and drug abuse)
• Failure to check tires and brakes
• severe weather conditions
• unsecured cargo or overloaded trucks

How is compensation determined after a traffic accident?

Your current and future costs are taken into account when determining your truck accident compensation. For example, if you have a brain injury, you may need medical and long-term care for months or even years. You may never be able to return to work. You may lose interest in everyday activities that you once loved and you may drift away from your partner. A truck accident claim should pay for all of these losses.

There are two types of damages that a truck accident victim can experience—economic and non-economic.

Economic lossesAll financial costs incurred after the accident will be covered. This includes, but is not limited to, current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and funeral expenses.

economic lossDesigned to compensate you and your family members who are struggling after an accident, such as the pain or suffering you are going through, emotional distress and loss of financial support.

In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant's actions were fraudulent, reckless, or malicious. These types of damages are designed to punish the defendant in order to prevent the behavior from happening again.

Insurance rarely covers all losses and expenses caused by trucking incidents. Trucking, transportation and rental companies often minimize payouts by disputing victims' insurance claims. Strategies often used by trucking companies and insurance companies can increase the trauma and costs of commercial motor vehicle collisions.

Filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is the right thing to do when negotiations fail to secure sufficient funds for the victim. Our truck accident attorneys have obtained multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including many multi-million dollar awards.

How do truck accident lawyers determine who is responsible for a truck accident?

Big truck accidents are not like other vehicle accidents; injuries can be catastrophic due to their magnitude. They are also more complicated because there are multiple parties that could be responsible for your injuries. The truck driver is not the only one to blame. To handle liability -- from large corporations to third-party brokers and manufacturers -- you need our semi truck accident attorneys by your side.

Who can be responsible for truck accidents?

You and your trucking attorney must consider a number of different parties and people when deciding who should be held responsible for your trucking accident.

• Truck Driver: This is obvious because your truck driver is probably most directly responsible for causing the truck accident.
• Trucking companies: Drivers of vehicles may be liable if they are employed by a trucking company. They are responsible for keeping track of driver information, including background checks, limited rest schedules, and more.
• Third Party Brokers: Many commercial shipping companies hire third party brokers to connect them with drivers and trucks to move their cargo. This means that if you are involved in a truck accident driving a vehicle hired by one of these brokers, your truck accident attorney will want to know if they did their due diligence when hiring them and investigate how much control they have over the driver, the timeline, etc. to wait.
• Truck manufacturer: You can also extend your liability to the truck manufacturer if the truck accident was caused by mechanical failure or other problems with the truck's parts. In addition, employers or independent truck drivers may also be liable for defective parts if they do not regularly inspect and repair their trucks.

Truck accidents can be complicated and you should know if one or more of the above parties are responsible. Truck drivers, their employers and even brokers have their own insurance policies. This means that you can receive compensation from several sources. The best way to ensure that you receive the most compensation for your truck accident injuries is to hire a truck accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.

National Truck Accident Statistics

If you drive a car, a collision with a large truck can be catastrophic. The truck driver's ability to brake and maintain other safe control of the truck is limited. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that fatal crashes involving large trucks have increased by 13 percent over the past year.

according toInsurance Institute for Highway Safety:

• In 2020, 4,014 people died in large truck accidents; only 15% were passengers in trucks, while the other 68% were passenger vehicles. The remaining 16% are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
• People in cars are more likely to be killed in a truck crash than those in a truck. In 2020, 97 percent of those killed in a two-vehicle collision involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle were passengers in the passenger vehicle.
• Ten percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2020 occurred in large truck accidents.
• Where did the truck crash happen? 47 percent are on major roads, 36 percent on interstates and highways, and 15 percent on minor roads.
• 27% of fatal work zone accidents involve large trucks.(FMCSA)

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Contact a Munley commercial truck accident attorney today!

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Why are tractor trailer accidents different from car accidents?

Commercial truck accidents differ from car accidents in many ways. Not only are you dealing with larger vehicles—on average, an 18-wheel truck weighs 80,000 pounds, 20 times the weight of a passenger car—but truck drivers are also subject to certain federal regulations that the average driver is not. For example,Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours of Operation RegulationsState that truck drivers cannot drive more than 11 hours after a 10-hour break from work; however, many truck drivers ignore this rule in order to meet deadlines or receive financial incentives from trucking companies.

Other differences between truck accidents and car accidents include:

• Multiple parties can be held responsible: In a typical accident, one or both drivers can usually be held responsible. But in a truck accident, multiple parties can be responsible for the accident, such as the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, and the company that loaded the vehicle.
• Larger Tractor Trailer Insurance Policies: Truck insurance is higher than your regular car insurance policy. This means that insurance adjusters will do everything in their power to ensure that the car driver is at fault to prevent huge payouts.
• More serious injuries: The bigger the vehicle, the greater the possibility of injuries in an accident. This can lead to high medical bills, life-changing injuries, and possibly death.

Truck accidents can be devastating. That's why it's always important to speak with a commercial truck accident attorney who has the experience, knowledge, and track record to protect your claim and defend your rights.

How do truck accident lawyers determine negligence?

To prove negligence in a truck accident, you need evidence that the truck driver and other parties are responsible for the accident. Using this evidence, our truck accident attorneys will prove that the truck driver and other parties breached their duty of care, causing the accident and the injuries it caused.

Common examples of breach of duty of care include:

• Improper keeping of a diary detailing hours driven
• Failure to record working hours and breaks
• Improperly loaded trucks, such as overloaded trailers
• driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving for more than 10 hours without a break

This can be difficult if you don't have the right lawyers around you. Only an experienced truck accident attorney knows what to look for when determining fault in a truck accident.

You need a truck injury attorney who knows how to repair and inspect truck black boxes

What is a semi truck black box and what does it follow?

The "black box" contains information about the truck at the time of the accident, from speed to tire pressure to whether the brakes were applied. This information about the behavior of the driver and the condition of the truck at the time of the collision is crucial to your case. All trucks are different and not all lawyers know how to access that information for every truck - our truck accident lawyers do.

National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA)All commercial trucks are required to record and report certain information. "Black box" is an umbrella term that covers the various devices that record this information, namely electronic control modules (ECMs), event data recorders (EDRs) and electronic logging devices (ELDs). These devices store technical vehicle data and passenger information about the behavior of the truck and its operator. When a truck accident occurs and victims suffer losses, black boxes can provide vital information about how and why the catastrophic collision occurred.

A black box can capture the following data:

• Speed ​​of the truck before and after the collision
• The exact GPS location of the vehicle
• Is the truck driver wearing a seat belt?
• steering angle
• Whether, when and with what force the truck driver braked the vehicle
• the number of revolutions of the truck engine
• How often do trucks speed
• Is the airbag deployed?
• Does the truck operator use the cruise control setting
• percentage of gas
• Daily and monthly freight activity
• tire pressure
• If the truck driver contacts or communicates with the truck company

Because black boxes provide objective information about how and why a crash occurred that cannot be obtained otherwise, they are an important tool for car accident victims. Black boxes can help illustrate the events before and after leading up to a catastrophic truck accident. These recordings are often critical to a personal injury plaintiff's ability to prove that the truck driver was exhausted, fatigued, or negligent.

Black box data is undoubtedly valuable, but it is also difficult to obtain. Car companies do not automatically provide black box information to accident victims. In fact, they may try to destroy it, or they may do nothing to protect it, and most devices automatically delete data after thirty days.

Not only does your truck accident attorney need to know how to access black box information, but he also needs to know how to use it to help you win your case. This requires knowledge of highly technical truck mechanics and standards and regulations for the trucking industry. It may also involve engaging one or more experts to advise or testify in court on topics such as truck driver fatigue, FMCSA compliance, tractor-trailer braking systems, the physics of semi-trailer crashes, or the function of the black box itself.

For decades, our truck accident lawyers have successfully extracted, interpreted and exploited black box data to great success for our clients. With this technical knowledge and skills, we recently won a $26 million settlement for your personal injury case. If you or someone you love experiences a catastrophic collision, we want to help you do the same. Don't wait any longer - call the personal injury attorneys at Munley Law today for a free consultation.

Contact our truck accident attorneys today

When choosing a truck accident attorney, choose the one with the most experience, resources, and track record. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a semi-trailer truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. The truck accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys represent victims of tractor trailer accidents across the country.

Contact us today to discuss your legal options for recovering money for damages sustained in a truck accident.