Dunmore Personal Injury Lawyer

Injured in an auto accident, slip and fall, or other serious incident in Dunmore, Pennsylvania? The Dunmore personal injury lawyers at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., help injured clients recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when a negligent driver, property owner, or business causes harm.

Our founder, Melissa A. Scartelli, has practiced law in Pennsylvania since 1988 and is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate through the National Board of Trial Advocacy. We have recovered millions for Pennsylvania clients, including a $10,000,000 medical malpractice jury verdict and a $2,200,000 tractor-trailer crash recovery.

Call (570) 346-2600 or schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Dunmore, PA. 

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case in Dunmore, PA?

You likely have a personal injury case in Dunmore if someone else’s negligence or reckless conduct caused your injury and you have losses such as medical bills, lost wages, or lasting pain.

A personal injury case lets you hold the at-fault party accountable and financially responsible for your injuries. Most injury claims rest on negligence, meaning a person or business failed to use reasonable care and caused your injury. Some claims rest on strict liability, such as an injury caused by a defective product. Our guide to the evidence needed to file a successful personal injury claim in PA explains how to prove duty, breach, causation, and damages.

The clearest way to know if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a Dunmore personal injury lawyer. Call (570) 346-2600 for a free case review.

Personal Injury Cases We Help Dunmore Residents With

Injured in a motor vehicle accident? Hurt in a slip, trip, or fall? Harmed in any other way as a result of someone else’s negligence? We pursue full compensation for your damages and take on the at-fault party’s insurer so you can focus on healing.

Car Accidents

A car accident claim seeks compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer for injuries such as whiplash, fractures, and spinal damage. Your full or limited tort election and your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage shape what you recover. We secured a $1,000,000 settlement for a 77-year-old passenger, and our Scranton car accident lawyer team handles crashes on I-81, Blakely Street, and O’Neill Highway.

Truck and Tractor-Trailer Accidents

A truck accident claim holds the driver, the trucking company, and other liable parties, such as a maintenance contractor, responsible for a crash with a commercial vehicle. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules on hours of service, driver qualification, and inspections set the safety standard. Our Scranton truck accident lawyer team sends preservation letters right away to secure evidence.

Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcycle accident claim covers a rider hurt by a driver who turned left, changed lanes, or opened a door without looking. Pennsylvania does not require first-party medical benefits on motorcycle policies, which makes the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and your UM/UIM coverage critical. We push back on insurer bias against riders, as the motorcycle brain injury settlement featured above shows.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

A pedestrian or bicycle accident claim arises when a driver fails to yield at a crosswalk, intersection, or parking lot. An injured pedestrian or cyclist can claim first-party medical benefits through a household auto policy or the policy on the vehicle that struck them. We pursue that coverage first, then the driver’s liability insurance for pain, lost wages, and future care.

Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall claim, a type of premises liability claim, holds property owners responsible for hazards they knew about or should have found. Common causes include icy sidewalks, broken stairs, and wet store floors. We have won a $1,000,000 premises liability verdict, and our Scranton slip and fall lawyer team handles claims across Lackawanna County involving stores, apartment buildings, and parking lots.

Dog Bites

A dog bite claim seeks compensation for bites, knockdowns, infections, and scarring caused by a dog whose owner failed to control. A Pennsylvania owner who violates the Dog Law’s confinement or control rules can be found negligent. We pursue the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, when coverage is available, to compensate you for your injuries.

Catastrophic Injuries

A brain injury, spinal cord damage, an amputation, severe electrical burns, or a birth injury can mean years of care, lost earning capacity, and a household rebuilt around one person’s needs. We work with neurologists, life care planners, and vocational economists to prove that future cost. Our attorneys secured $6,500,000 for a motorcycle crash victim who suffered brain damage.

Wrongful Death

A wrongful death claim lets a family recover when negligence takes a loved one. Pennsylvania allows a wrongful death action under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301 for the family’s losses and a survival action under § 8302 for the estate. We recovered $3,500,000 in an electrocution wrongful death case. Speak with a wrongful death lawyer in Scranton about who may file.

Medical Malpractice

A medical malpractice claim holds a doctor, nurse, or hospital responsible for care that falls below accepted medical standards. Common cases include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries, and medication mistakes. Our medical malpractice lawyers have won a $1,500,000 jury verdict, including punitive damages, for a patient whose finger was amputated unnecessarily.

Nursing Home Neglect

A nursing home neglect claim holds long-term care facilities responsible for bedsores, falls, dehydration, medication errors, and abuse. We pull staffing records, incident reports, state inspection findings, and minimum data set reports to identify patterns of neglect.

Product Liability and Vehicle Defects

A product liability claim can hold manufacturers and sellers strictly liable for defective designs, manufacturing flaws, and missing warnings. Defective airbags, tires, seat belts, and work equipment can turn an ordinary accident into a catastrophic injury. We recovered $3,000,000 for a 58-year-old woman hurt by a defective product.

Hurt on I-81, Blakely Street, or anywhere in Dunmore? Call (570) 346-2600 for a free consultation. We listen to your story and explain your options. No attorney fee unless we win.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Laws That Shape Your Dunmore Claim

How Much Is Your Dunmore Personal Injury Case Worth?

It depends on the severity of your injury, your medical costs, your lost income and the insurance coverage available. Insurers often offer a fast settlement before the long-term cost of an injury is clear. We calculate the full value of your claim before any offer is considered.

• Economic damages: Past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, home care, adaptive equipment and property damage.
• Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, and a spouse’s loss of consortium.
• Punitive damages: May be awarded when a defendant acts with reckless indifference to others’ safety, such as in some drunk driving, hit-and-run or falsified trucking log cases. Under the MCARE Act (40 P.S. § 1303.505), punitive damages against an individual physician are capped at 200% of compensatory damages, except for intentional misconduct. 25% of any medical malpractice punitive award goes to the MCARE Fund.

Pennsylvania Has No Cap on Compensatory Damages Against Private Parties

Pennsylvania does not cap economic or non-economic damages in claims against private individuals and businesses. Claims against government entities carry statutory caps. A limited tort election restricts non-economic damages in car crash cases for people bound by that choice, unless an exception applies. We won a $970,000 verdict in Luzerne County for a 91-year-old hospital patient injured in a fall.

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

A Very Difficult Case. The Whole Process Exceeded Our Expectations.

Not sure who is responsible for your injury? We investigate every party at no upfront cost. Call (570) 346-2600 to book a free consultation with an experienced injury attorney.

Our Verdicts & Settlements for PA Clients

Amount	Case Type	Details
$10,000,000	Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict	One of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Luzerne County history
$6,500,000	Motorcycle Accident Settlement	Traumatic brain injury
$3,500,000	Wrongful Death	Fatal electrocution
$3,000,000	Product Liability	58-year-old woman injured by a defective product
$2,200,000	Tractor-Trailer Crash	Multi-vehicle commercial truck crash on a local highway; 28-year-old client; Luzerne County
$2,000,000	Wrongful Death	Death of a child; Medical Malpractice
$2,000,000	Defective Medical Device	Wrongful death
$1,800,000	Product Liability	Defective work truck found after the case first appeared to be malpractice
$1,500,000	Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict	$1,200,000 compensatory and $300,000 punitive for an unnecessary finger amputation; no settlement offer before trial
$1,000,000	Premises Liability Verdict	Slip and fall
$1,000,000	Car Accident Settlement	77-year-old passenger
$970,000	Hospital Fall Verdict	91-year-old patient; Luzerne County
$750,000	Wrongful Death	U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique, and the facts and circumstances of your case may differ from these matters.

These results were obtained by our attorneys for Pennsylvania clients. Each one reflects a family that trusted us with a serious injury or loss. Browse our full case results for more outcomes.

Why Dunmore Families Choose Scartelli Olszewski

Dunmore families choose our personal injury lawyer team because our lawyers have tried cases, judged them, and changed Pennsylvania law. You get a small team’s attention with the resources to take on large insurers.

• Board-Certified Trial Leadership
• A Former District Attorney and Judge on Your Side
• A Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision That Protects Patients

Our Process for Your Case:

1. Free case review. We listen to your story, review your options with you, and explain how Pennsylvania law applies to your claim.
2. Investigation. We send preservation letters, collect the police report and medical records, and identify every responsible party and insurance policy.
3. Full value and resolution. We calculate current and future losses, negotiate with insurers, and file suit when they refuse fair value. Most cases settle, and we prepare each one for trial. Dunmore injury cases are often filed in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, 200 N. Washington Avenue in Scranton.

What We Handle So You Can Heal:

• No fee unless we win, under a written contingency fee agreement.
• Case costs advanced for experts, accident reconstruction, records and filings. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.
• Medical experts and reconstruction specialists who explain your injury to insurers and juries.
• Regular updates from the attorney and staff handling your case.
• A Scranton office at 411 Jefferson Avenue, a short drive from Dunmore.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dunmore Personal Injury Claims

How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Pennsylvania?

Personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania charge a contingency fee in most injury cases, so you pay no upfront or hourly fees. The contingency fee comes out of the settlement or verdict. At Scartelli Olszewski, you pay no fee unless we win, and we advance costs for experts, records, and filings. Our article on how much a Pennsylvania injury lawyer will cost you walks through the math.

Can I Still Get Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault in Pennsylvania?

Yes, you can recover if you were partly at fault in Pennsylvania, as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, reduces your award by your percentage. A 30% share on a $200,000 verdict leaves $140,000.

What Happens if an Uninsured Driver Hits You in Dunmore?

If you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, it can pay for your injuries, up to policy limits, when an uninsured driver hits you in Dunmore. Pennsylvania insurers offer UM coverage under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1731, and drivers have the right to reject it in writing. Limited tort policyholders regain full tort rights against them.

Is the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer Fair?

Often not, because adjusters frequently make the first offer before the full cost of an injury is known. Some early offers match the value of minor, fully healed injuries. Compare every offer against your medical records before signing a release, because a signed release ends the claim.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?

In our experience, soft-tissue cases with clear liability typically resolve in 6 to 12 months. Cases involving surgery, fractures, or permanent injury take 18 months to 3 years because medical recovery must be documented before the case is valued. Medical malpractice and trucking cases often take longer, and cases that go to trial typically take 2 years or more from filing.

Were You or a Loved One Seriously Injured? Call Scartelli Olszewski, P.C.

Small Enough to Care, Large Enough to Win.

Insurance companies start building their defense the day of the crash. Evidence fades, video gets recorded over, and the two-year deadline keeps running. Call now for a free consultation with an injury attorney in Dunmore.

Scranton Office: Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., 411 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, (570) 346-2600

Wilkes-Barre Office (by appointment): 7 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, (570) 822-1400

We serve injured clients in Dunmore, Scranton, Throop, Olyphant, Dickson City, Moosic, Old Forge, Clarks Summit, Carbondale, and communities across Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.