Scranton Car Accident Lawyer

Scranton sits where I-81, I-84, I-380, and I-476 all meet, putting interstate trucks and local commuters on the same roads through Dunmore, Dickson City, and downtown. That traffic mix, combined with busy corridors like Route 6, Route 307, Keyser Avenue, and Main Avenue, led to several thousand crashes in Lackawanna County in 2024 according to PennDOT data. If you or someone you love was hurt in one of them, you need a lawyer who knows these roads and these courtrooms.

Scartelli Olszewski, P.C. has tried car accident cases in Lackawanna County since 2001. Our office is minutes from the courthouse, and we have spent two decades building the kind of trial reputation that makes insurance carriers take our calls seriously. The firm is led by Melissa A. Scartelli, founder, president, and Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

• Proven Results: $10 million Luzerne County verdict
• Precedent-setting punitive damages verdict against a doctor in Luzerne County
• $650,000 car accident settlement
• 100+ combined years of attorney experience across medical malpractice, personal injury, and criminal defense
• Led by Board Certified Trial Advocate Melissa Scartelli, one of the very few female attorneys in Pennsylvania with this certification
• Former Judge and former DA on staff
• Super Lawyers recognition for 17 consecutive years (2010-2026)
• 4.7 stars on Google from verified clients
• Free case review. Available 24/7. Zero upfront cost.

Call our Scranton office at (570) 346-2600 or visit 411 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510 for a free, confidential case review. We file and try car accident cases in Lackawanna County, minutes from our office.

Why Hire a Scranton Car Accident Lawyer?

• We Try Cases in Lackawanna County. Our Scranton office at 411 Jefferson Avenue is minutes from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas where car accident lawsuits are filed. We file, prepare, and try cases in the same courthouse defense counsel walks into. Insurance carriers track which firms in this county will take a case to a jury and price their offers accordingly.
• We Build Every Case for Trial From Day One. Documenting every dimension of loss from the first call protects your leverage whether the case settles or goes to verdict. Carriers raise their offers when they know the firm on the other side will not flinch. Learn why hiring a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer changes the outcome.
• Trial-Tested Founder. Melissa A. Scartelli is the firm’s founder and lead trial attorney on serious cases. She is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, a credential held by very few attorneys in Pennsylvania. She has been named to the Super Lawyers list for 17 consecutive years and to the Top 50: Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list in 2024 and 2025.
• Former DA and Judge on the Team. Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr. served as Luzerne County District Attorney and as a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas before joining the firm. He knows local courts, local juries, and how the other side thinks.
• Expert Network for Serious Cases. For major injuries, we bring in specialists who can explain exactly how the crash happened, how it damaged your body, what medical care you will need for the rest of your life, and how it affects your ability to work and earn a living.

Proven Results in Pennsylvania Car Accident and Personal Injury Cases:

• $650,000 car accident settlement
• $2.2 million tractor-trailer settlement
• $1.8 million work truck injury settlement
• $10 million jury verdict (medical malpractice, Luzerne County)

See our full case results, read what our clients have said, or meet our attorneys.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts.

How Much Is Your Scranton Car Accident Case Worth?

Insurance companies offer fast, low settlements hoping you sign before you understand the lifetime cost of your injuries. We calculate the full value of your claim and fight to recover every dollar. Understanding the different types of personal injury damages helps you know what to expect.

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical expenses, surgeries, specialist care, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement, rental car costs, and out-of-pocket expenses tied to your injury.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress and psychological trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, harm to your relationship with your spouse, and disfigurement and scarring. Your right to recover these damages depends on the type of car insurance you carry (full tort vs. limited tort) or whether an exception applies.
• Punitive Damages: Available where the defendant acted with reckless indifference to the rights of others. Common fact patterns include drunk driving, hit-and-run, excessive speeding, and street racing.

No Cap on Compensatory Damages

Pennsylvania does not cap economic or non-economic damages in car accident cases. You can recover the full value of your losses.

Full Tort vs. Limited Tort: A Critical Distinction

Pennsylvania’s full tort vs. limited tort election determines whether you can recover pain and suffering damages after a car accident. Limited tort restricts your right to these damages unless your injuries are severe enough to meet Pennsylvania’s threshold: death, serious impairment of a body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

Even under limited tort, several exceptions unlock full pain and suffering damages:

• The at-fault driver was convicted of DUI or entered a first-time offender program (ARD) for DUI
• The at-fault driver was uninsured
• The at-fault vehicle was registered in another state
• You were a pedestrian or cyclist
• You were a passenger in a commercial vehicle
• You are a minor (children are not bound by their parents’ tort election)

If you never made a tort election on your policy, Pennsylvania law presumes you chose full tort. If you have no car insurance at all, Pennsylvania treats you as if you selected limited tort.

Read our full tort coverage explainer to understand what your policy allows.

What to Do Immediately After a Scranton Car Accident

The steps you take after a crash affect your health, your evidence, and your claim. Our guide on what to do after a car accident covers the full checklist. Here are the Scranton-specific items:

1. Call 911 and get medical attention. Even if you feel fine, internal injuries, traumatic brain injury, and spinal damage often have delayed symptoms that the same-day medical record protects. Geisinger Community Medical Center on Mulberry Street is a Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Level II accredited trauma center serving the county. Regional Hospital of Scranton operates a 24/7 emergency department.
2. Document the scene. Photograph vehicle damage, the positions of the vehicles, skid marks, traffic signals, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get the other driver’s insurance and contact information. Collect witness names and phone numbers. Our guide on tips for taking pictures after a crash walks through what to capture.
3. Pull the Scranton police report. See our walkthrough on securing a police report after a car accident in Scranton, PA.
4. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters call within 24 hours looking for statements they can use to reduce your claim. Read our list of things not to do after a crash and understand car accident myths you shouldn’t believe.
5. Contact Scartelli Olszewski. We open the case, send letters to preserve evidence before it disappears, and handle the insurance company so you can focus on recovery.

From minute one, we handle the insurance company. Call (570) 346-2600 for a free case review.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Scranton Car Accident Lawyer?

Nothing upfront. You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. We also advance all costs, including expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, medical records, investigation, and court filings. If we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing. We work on a contingency fee basis under Pa.R.P.C. 1.5(c).

Learn more about how a lawyer can help you when you’ve had a car accident and what to look for when hiring a lawyer for car crashes in PA.

How It Works: What Happens When You Call

We keep the process simple so you can focus on recovery.

Step 1: Free Case Review. Call (570) 346-2600 or fill out our online form. We respond fast. Our team will listen to your story, and an attorney will personally review your case and give you an honest assessment.

Step 2: We Investigate and Build Your Case. If we take your case, we move immediately. We send formal letters demanding that the insurance company and any nearby businesses preserve surveillance footage before it gets erased. We order the police report, gather medical records, document the scene, and identify everyone who might be responsible for your injuries. You focus on getting better. We handle the rest.

Step 3: We Fight for Maximum Recovery. We calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical needs and long-term impacts. We negotiate hard with the insurance company. If they refuse to pay fair value, we file suit and prepare for trial. Most cases settle once the carrier sees we are ready to go to a jury.

You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

How Insurance Companies Fight Your Car Accident Claim

Understanding how insurance companies avoid paying claims helps you avoid common traps.

• Quick Lowball Offers. Insurers extend fast settlements before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once accepted, you cannot come back for more. They know that medical bills create pressure.
• Recorded Statements. Adjusters use your own words against you. A question like “How are you feeling today?” can be twisted to suggest your injuries are minor. Never give a recorded statement without counsel.
• Defense Medical Examinations. The insurance company can require you to see a doctor they choose. These doctors routinely downplay injuries and question whether the crash caused them. These exams are not neutral.
• Blaming You for the Crash. In Pennsylvania, your compensation gets reduced by your share of fault. If they can pin 20% of the blame on you, they pay 20% less. If they can push it past 50%, they pay nothing. Expect them to argue you were speeding, failed to brake, or were on your phone.
• Limited Tort Arguments. If you carry limited tort coverage, insurers will argue your injuries do not meet the serious injury threshold. We counter with medical evidence and expert testimony.
• Delay. Carriers know that financial pressure pushes injured people to accept less than the case is worth. They drag out negotiations hoping you will settle cheap.
• Surveillance. Insurers hire investigators to follow you, photograph you, and monitor your social media. They are looking for anything that contradicts your claimed injuries.

When insurers cross the line into bad faith, meaning they unreasonably deny valid claims, misrepresent policy terms, or refuse to pay what they owe, Pennsylvania law allows a separate bad faith claim. You can recover additional damages beyond your original loss, including attorney fees and, in some cases, punitive damages.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Scranton Car Accident?

Identifying every party responsible for your crash is how we maximize recovery. Pennsylvania law allows claims against multiple defendants.

• The At-Fault Driver. Drivers who caused the crash through careless or reckless behavior, whether speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, tailgating, or drunk driving, can be held responsible for your injuries.
• The Vehicle Owner. If the driver was using someone else’s vehicle with permission, the owner may share liability for letting an unsafe driver use their car.
• The Employer. If the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash, the employer can be held responsible. This often doubles or triples the available insurance coverage.
• Rideshare Companies. Uber and Lyft crashes involve layered insurance policies that shift depending on whether the driver was active on the app at the moment of impact. See what to do after an Uber or Lyft accident and what happens if you get in an accident while in an Uber or Lyft.
• Bars and Restaurants. Pennsylvania law allows you to sue a bar or restaurant that kept serving alcohol to someone who was visibly drunk (dram shop liquor laws) and then caused a crash. If you were hit by a drunk driver, this can add insurance coverage beyond the driver’s own policy. Read more about whether drunk drivers are always at fault in a crash.
• Vehicle and Parts Manufacturers. If a defect contributed to the crash or worsened your injuries, the manufacturer, designer, and distributor may face product liability claims. Defective brakes, tires, steering components, defective airbags, and defective seatbelts are common fact patterns. See our overview of the different types of car defects.
• Government Entities. Dangerous road conditions, missing or inadequate signage, malfunctioning traffic controls, and dangerous design at the municipal, county, or state level create partial liability. Government claims have much shorter deadlines than regular injury cases. You must file a formal notice of claim within six months, not two years.

How Do I Prove the Other Driver Was at Fault?

To win a car accident case, you have to prove the other driver was careless and that their carelessness caused your injuries. Understanding terms to know for car accidents in PA helps you follow the process. Here is what we need to show:

• Duty: The other driver had a responsibility to drive safely. Every driver on the road must operate their vehicle responsibly and follow traffic laws.
• Breach: The other driver broke that responsibility. Speeding, running a red light, texting while driving, tailgating, or driving drunk are all examples.
• Causation: The other driver’s actions directly caused your injuries. There has to be a clear link between what they did wrong and the harm you suffered.
• Damages: You suffered real harm, whether physical injuries, medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

We gather the evidence that proves each element: police reports, sworn witness statements, surveillance and intersection footage, cell phone records, vehicle damage analysis, and medical records. Insurance carriers challenge one or more elements in every case. Understanding how fault is determined in a parking lot car crash in PA and proving fault for a car crash in bad weather shows how fact patterns affect liability analysis.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Scranton?

Pennsylvania law imposes strict deadlines on personal injury claims. Missing them permanently bars your claim, regardless of how strong the evidence is.

• Personal Injury Lawsuit: Two years from the date of the crash.
• Wrongful Death: Two years from the date of death.
• Government Claims: If your crash involved a government vehicle, a poorly maintained state road, a missing sign, or any other government fault, you have only six months to file a written notice of claim with the responsible agency. This applies to claims against PennDOT, municipalities, counties, and other government entities. Miss this deadline and your claim may be barred entirely, even though the regular two-year deadline has not run.
• Minors: If the injured person is under 18, the clock does not start until they turn 18. They then have two years from their 18th birthday to file.

Evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage gets overwritten in days. Witness memories fade. Vehicles get repaired. We move immediately.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Scranton

Car accidents happen for predictable reasons. Knowing what caused your crash helps us build the strongest possible case. Our regional data on NEPA car crash facts provides additional context. General data on where car accidents happen most shows the patterns.

• Distracted Driving. Pennsylvania’s Paul Miller’s Law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3316.1, effective June 5, 2025) makes handheld device use while driving a primary offense. Through June 4, 2026, violations result in written warnings; summary citations begin June 5, 2026. Even before citations carry fines, a violation or admission of handheld use at the time of a crash is powerful civil liability evidence. We subpoena cell phone records in distracted driving cases. Read about all the types of distracted driving and how the new law cracks down on distracted driving in PA.
• Speeding. Higher speed means longer stopping distances and greater crash forces. Speeding is a factor in a significant share of serious injury and fatal crashes on I-81, I-84, I-380, and Route 6.
• Drunk and Impaired Driving. DUI crashes peak on weekend nights and around holidays. A DUI conviction or ARD entry by the at-fault driver unlocks full tort recovery for limited tort victims.
• Failure to Yield. Left-turn crashes at intersections and failure to yield at stop signs and red lights produce T-bone collisions with serious injury profiles.
• Tailgating. Rear-end collisions are the most common crash type in Lackawanna County. The lead vehicle driver almost always has a strong liability claim.
• Weather-Related Driving Failures. Scranton winters demand reduced speed and increased following distance. Drivers who fail to adjust are not absolved of fault. See our winter driving tips in the snow and ice and the hidden danger of black ice. Understanding whether weather has an impact on car accident lawsuits clarifies liability.
• Running Red Lights and Stop Signs. Intersection violations cause some of the most violent crashes because they produce T-bone impacts at or near full speed.
• Deer and Wildlife. Lackawanna County’s rural highways, especially Route 6, I-84, and I-380, see frequent deer strikes, particularly at dawn and dusk in fall and early winter. A deer collision at highway speed can total a vehicle and cause serious injury. Swerving to avoid wildlife causes secondary crashes into guardrails, trees, or oncoming traffic.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Scranton

Different crash types require different approaches. We handle car accident cases across every fact pattern:

• Rear-End Collisions. The most common crash type. The rear driver is almost always at fault for following too closely or failing to brake in time. Whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions are common injuries.
• T-Bone (Side-Impact) Collisions. Intersection crashes where one vehicle strikes the side of another. These crashes cause serious injuries because the side of a vehicle offers less protection than the front or rear.
• Head-On Collisions. Often caused by wrong-way driving, crossing the centerline due to distraction or impairment, or passing on undivided highways. Combined closing speeds produce catastrophic outcomes.
• Sideswipe Crashes. Lane-change collisions where one vehicle drifts into another. Common on I-81 and I-84 during merging.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents. If you were hit by a driver who fled the scene, you may recover through your own uninsured motorist coverage.
• Multi-Vehicle Pileups. Chain-reaction crashes on I-81, I-84, and I-380, often caused by fog, ice, or one driver’s mistake that triggers a cascade of collisions.
• Intersection Accidents. Crashes at traffic signals and stop signs, involving failure to yield, red-light running, and left-turn collisions.
• Parking Lot Accidents. Lower speeds, but still produce injuries. Liability can be disputed. See how fault is determined in a parking lot car crash in PA.
• Rideshare Accidents. Uber and Lyft crashes can be confusing because different insurance policies apply depending on whether the driver was logged into the app, waiting for a ride request, or actively transporting a passenger. We sort out which policy covers your claim.
• Drunk Driving Accidents. DUI crashes may allow you to recover extra damages to punish the drunk driver’s reckless behavior. If the driver got drunk at a bar or restaurant that kept serving them when they were visibly intoxicated, you may be able to sue that establishment too.

Work-Related Car Accidents in Scranton

If you were injured in a car accident while working, you may have two separate claims: a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim against the driver who hit you. Workers’ comp covers your medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it does not stop you from suing the at-fault driver, their employer, vehicle owners, or other responsible parties.

The injury claim against the driver is often where the bigger recovery comes from. Workers’ comp covers medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it does not pay for pain and suffering. A personal injury claim against the at-fault driver can recover the full value of your losses, including the pain and suffering workers’ comp does not cover.

We can pursue both claims at the same time and coordinate with any workers’ comp attorney you may already have.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents produce a range of injuries, from soft tissue damage to permanent disability. The severity of your injuries drives the value of your claim.

• Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries. The most common car accident injury. Neck and back strain from sudden deceleration. Symptoms may be delayed.
• Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury. From mild concussion through severe TBI causing permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality change. Symptoms of TBI may not appear immediately.
• Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis. Lifetime care for paraplegia and quadriplegia routinely runs into the millions. These claims require experts who can map out your future medical needs, explain how the injury affects your ability to work, and calculate the full financial impact over your lifetime.
• Fractures and Broken Bones. Arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, and facial fractures requiring surgical repair and rehabilitation.
• Internal Organ Damage. Internal bleeding and organ damage to the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Often not visible externally and life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed.
• Burns. Fuel ignition after a crash can produce severe burns with permanent disfigurement.
• Lacerations and Scarring. Broken glass, deployed airbags, and impact produce cuts that may leave permanent scars.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anxiety, panic attacks, and fear of driving following a serious crash. PTSD and other psychological injuries are compensable under Pennsylvania law.
• Wrongful Death. When someone’s careless or reckless driving causes a death, surviving families can pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, the income your loved one would have earned, and the loss of their companionship and guidance.

Car Accidents in Scranton and Lackawanna County

Scranton sits at the convergence of I-81, I-84, I-380, and the I-476 Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The combination of interstate traffic, commuter volume, commercial trucking, and harsh winter weather produces a consistent accident profile.

Pennsylvania Crash Volume. PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics 2024 reported 110,765 reportable traffic crashes statewide, with 66,950 people injured and 1,127 killed. Lackawanna County recorded several thousand crashes that year.

High-Frequency Corridors. I-81 through Scranton, Dunmore, Dickson City, and Jessup; the I-84/I-380 interchange near Dunmore; the I-476 Turnpike interchange near Clarks Summit; Route 6 through the city; Route 307 (Morgan Highway); Keyser Avenue; Main Avenue; Wyoming Avenue; and Moosic Street.

High-Frequency Intersections. Downtown corridors and the I-81/I-84/I-380 interchange ramps see elevated crash volumes, with specific intersection-level data available through PennDOT OpenData.

Trauma Care. Geisinger Community Medical Center on Mulberry Street is a Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Level II accredited trauma center serving the county. Regional Hospital of Scranton operates a 24/7 emergency department.

Where We File. Car accident lawsuits in Lackawanna County are filed in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas at 200 Adams Avenue. Our office at 411 Jefferson Avenue is minutes away.

When the Car Itself Made Your Injuries Worse: Crashworthiness Claims

Not every serious injury in a Scranton crash is caused by the other driver alone. Vehicles are required to protect the people inside them during a foreseeable collision. That protection is called crashworthiness. When a safety system fails, the crash you could have walked away from becomes a catastrophic one, and you may have a second claim: one against the negligent driver, and one against the vehicle or parts manufacturer for the additional harm the defect caused.

These cases are worth understanding because the difference between the injury you should have had and the injury you actually suffered is compensable. Even if another driver caused the collision itself, the manufacturer can be held responsible for the portion of your injuries a working safety system would have prevented.

Safety System Failures That Support a Defect Claim

Our firm has handled claims involving the safety systems drivers rely on most:

• Airbags that failed to deploy in a crash, or deployed when they should not have
• Seatbelt failures, including latch release, webbing tears, and retractor defects
• Roof crush in rollover accidents
• Crumple zones and structural components that failed to absorb collision forces as designed

If a defective part was on the vehicle when it was first sold, the manufacturer is generally liable, even when the defective component was built by a different company. Pennsylvania recognizes strict product liability, which means you do not have to prove the manufacturer was careless, only that the product was defective and the defect caused your harm.

Manufacturers rarely concede this. Common defenses include arguing that aftermarket parts or accessories you added affected the safety system, or that the vehicle was not being operated as intended. These arguments can be overcome, but they are the reason defect claims need an attorney who has litigated them, not just handled the underlying crash.

Why the First Days After the Crash Decide These Cases

The single most important piece of evidence in a vehicle defect claim is the vehicle. Insurance companies move quickly to declare cars a total loss and send them to salvage. Once the vehicle is crushed or parted out, the proof of the defect usually goes with it.

If your injuries seem far worse than the crash should have caused, do not sign a total-loss release or let the insurer take possession of the vehicle before speaking with a lawyer. We act immediately to preserve the vehicle, send spoliation notices, check for open recalls and prior complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and bring in the engineering experts these cases require.

Our results in defect litigation include a $1.8 million settlement in a defective work truck injury case. If a safety feature in your vehicle failed to protect you or a loved one in a Scranton crash, call (570) 346-2600. We will tell you honestly whether the facts support a defect claim alongside your accident claim.

Related reading: product liability claims and defective airbag cases.

Scranton Car Accident FAQ

How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Scranton?

Nothing upfront. You only pay a fee if we win. We also cover all case expenses while your case is pending, including expert fees, investigation costs, medical records, and court filings. If we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Scranton?

Two years from the date of the crash for most personal injury claims. Wrongful death has its own two-year period from the date of death. Claims against government entities (like PennDOT or a municipality) require a written notice of claim within just six months. Call promptly.

Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Yes, as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault. Pennsylvania reduces your award by your percentage of blame. If you were 20% at fault, you get 80% of the damages. But if you are 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.

The other driver caused my crash, but my airbag never went off. Do I still have a case against the manufacturer?

Possibly both. Pennsylvania law lets you pursue the at-fault driver for the crash and the manufacturer for the additional injuries the failed safety system caused. These claims run together, but the evidence for the defect claim disappears fast, so the vehicle must be preserved before the insurance company salvages it.

What is the difference between full tort and limited tort?

Full tort coverage allows you to pursue compensation for pain and suffering without restriction. Limited tort restricts that right to cases where your injuries are severe: death, permanent disfigurement, or serious impairment of a body function. Several exceptions still unlock full pain and suffering damages even if you have limited tort.

How long does a Scranton car accident case take?

Simpler cases like whiplash with clear fault typically resolve in 6 to 12 months. Cases involving surgery, broken bones, or permanent injury take 18 months to 3 years because we need to wait until your medical treatment is complete before we can calculate the full value. Cases that go to trial typically take 2 years or more from filing.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Almost never without consulting an attorney. Initial offers rarely reflect the full value of the claim and typically do not account for future medical needs or long-term impacts. Once accepted, you cannot come back for more.

Do I have to go to court?

Most car accident cases settle. Insurance carriers raise their offers when the firm on the other side will take the case to a jury. We prepare every case for trial. If the carrier will not pay fair value, we file suit and try the case.

What if I was hit by an uninsured driver?

If you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own policy, it pays for your damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot be identified (like in a hit-and-run). Pennsylvania requires insurers to offer UM coverage on every auto policy. Check the summary page of your policy or call your insurance agent to see if you have it. See what to do after an uninsured driver car accident.

What if I was a passenger?

You can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance regardless of your relationship to the driver of the vehicle you were riding in. You are not suing a friend or family member personally. You are making a claim against the insurance policy.

What if my loved one died in a car accident?

You may be able to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your family, plus a separate survival action on behalf of your loved one’s estate. Spouses, children, and parents can typically recover for funeral expenses, the income your loved one would have earned, and the loss of their companionship and guidance.

What should I do right after a car accident in Scranton?

Call 911, get medical attention even if you feel fine, document the scene with photos, exchange information with the other driver, get witness contact information, do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company, and contact a lawyer. See our full guide on what to do after a car accident.

How do I know if I have a car accident claim?

If you were injured in a crash caused by someone else’s carelessness, you likely have a claim. Even if you are unsure who was at fault, call us for a free case review. We will look at who was responsible, identify all the insurance policies that might cover your injuries, and tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.

Can I sue for a minor car accident?

It depends on your injuries, not the damage to your car. A low-speed collision can still cause whiplash, herniated discs, or concussion. If you have medical bills, missed work, or ongoing pain, the accident is not minor. If you carry limited tort insurance, you may need to show your injuries are severe (permanent disfigurement, serious impairment, or death) or that an exception applies. We can review your policy and your injuries to tell you where you stand.

What if I was injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft?

You can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance regardless of whether you were in a rideshare vehicle. Uber and Lyft carry $1 million insurance policies when a driver is actively transporting a passenger. We figure out which policy applies based on whether the driver was logged into the app at the time of the crash. See what to do after an Uber or Lyft accident.

How is fault proven in a Scranton car accident?

Fault is proven through evidence: the police report, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, cell phone records, vehicle damage patterns, and expert analysis when needed. We gather this evidence early, before it disappears. Even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover compensation, so long as you are 50% or less to blame.

What is the average car accident settlement in Scranton?

There is no meaningful average because every case is different. A whiplash injury that heals completely settles for far less than a traumatic brain injury requiring lifetime care. Settlement value depends on how severe your injuries are, how clear the other driver’s fault is, your medical bills, your lost wages, and the insurance coverage available. We evaluate each case individually and fight for the maximum recovery the facts support.

Speak With a Scranton Car Accident Lawyer Today

Pennsylvania gives you two years to file most car accident claims and as little as six months for government claims. Evidence becomes harder to collect the longer you wait. The first call is free, and there is no pressure to retain.

We live here, work here, and raise our families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. When you walk into our office, you are not a case number. You are a neighbor, and we handle your case with the seriousness we would bring to one involving our own family.

Call (570) 346-2600 or Start your free consultation online. Get a Scranton trial lawyer on your side.

Our Scranton office at 411 Jefferson Avenue represents car accident victims throughout Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Dunmore, Dickson City, Old Forge, Moosic, Taylor, Throop, Olyphant, Jessup, Archbald, Carbondale, Clarks Summit, Dalton, Moscow, and the Abingtons. We also serve Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Monroe County, Wayne County, and Pike County.

Meet our attorneys: Melissa A. Scartelli, Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr., Rachel D. Olszewski, and Kristin A. Mazzarella.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts