Scranton Truck Accident Lawyer

A Scranton trucking case is won or lost on evidence that starts disappearing within hours of the crash. Electronic logging device data, event data recorder downloads, dashcam video, dispatch communications, driver qualification files, and drug and alcohol test records can all be lost or “cycled out” in days unless preserved by formal demand. The carrier’s defense counsel knows this. Major commercial carriers run rapid response programs that put investigators on scene within hours of a serious crash, building the company’s defense while victims are still in the trauma bay. By the time most injured people think to call a lawyer, the clock is already running against them.

In 2024, Pennsylvania recorded 110,765 reportable traffic crashes statewide, with 66,950 people injured and 1,127 killed, according to PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics 2024. Lackawanna County sits at the convergence of I-81, I-84, I-380, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476). The growth of regional warehousing and distribution along the I-81 corridor has produced sustained heavy commercial traffic through Scranton, Dunmore, Jessup, Olyphant, and Pittston.

Scartelli Olszewski, P.C. 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.
• Largest settlement of a birth injury case in Lackawanna County history
• Precedent-setting punitive damages verdict against a doctor in Luzerne County
• 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 are minutes from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas at 200 Adams Avenue where Scranton-area trucking cases are filed.

Why Hire a Scranton Truck 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 at 200 Adams Avenue. We file, prepare, and try cases in the same courthouse defense counsel walks into. Trucking carriers track which firms in this county will take a case to a jury and price their offers accordingly.
• We Move on Evidence Before the Carrier Cycles It Out. ELD data, EDR downloads, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol test records, dispatch communications, and trip envelopes are perishable. We send formal preservation letters within hours of being retained and pursue spoliation sanctions when appropriate.
• We Build the FMCSA Violation Stack. A trucking case is rarely a single-driver case. We document violations of 49 C.F.R. Part 391 (driver qualifications), Part 392 (driving rules), Part 393 (vehicle equipment and cargo securement), Part 395 (hours of service), Part 396 (inspection, repair, maintenance), and Part 382 (drug and alcohol testing). FMCSA violations are powerful evidence on negligence and on negligence per se where the regulation defines the standard.
• Trial-Tested Founder. Melissa A. Scartelli is the firm’s founder and lead trial attorney on serious cases. She holds Civil Trial Advocate certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an ABA-accredited certifying organization recognized under Pa.R.P.C. 7.4. 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 Catastrophic Cases. We work with accident reconstruction engineers, commercial vehicle specialists, biomechanical experts, treating physicians, and life care planners to quantify damages in TBI, spinal cord, amputation, and wrongful death cases.

Proven Results in Pennsylvania Trucking and Auto Cases:

• $2.2 million tractor trailer settlement
• $1.8 million work truck injury settlement
• $650,000 car accident settlement

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 Truck Accident Case Worth?

Trucking cases are usually worth more than passenger-vehicle cases for two reasons. First, the underlying injuries are more severe; an 80,000-pound tractor trailer striking a 4,000-pound passenger vehicle produces forces that drive catastrophic harm. Second, federal financial responsibility minimums require commercial carriers to maintain coverage well above ordinary auto policy limits.

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical expenses, trauma surgery, ICU and rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, long-term care, in-home assistance, adaptive equipment, vehicle and property loss, 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, loss of consortium, and disfigurement and scarring.
• Punitive Damages: Available where the carrier or driver acted with reckless indifference to safety. Falsified driver logs, knowingly hiring an unqualified driver, ignoring repeated safety violations, and dispatching a driver while impaired or fatigued can support a punitive claim against the carrier on its own conduct, separate from the driver.

No Cap on Compensatory Damages

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

Federal Minimum Liability Coverage

Under 49 C.F.R. § 387.9, motor carriers transporting non-hazardous freight in interstate commerce must maintain at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Carriers transporting certain hazardous materials must maintain $5,000,000. Carriers transporting oil must maintain $1,000,000. Many large carriers carry coverage well above these minimums. The size of the policy stack drives what is available to recover, but it is the strength of the case that determines what is paid.

What to Do Immediately After a Scranton Truck Accident

The general scene-response checklist (911, medical, photos, witness contact, no recorded statement, no social media) lives on our what to do at the scene of a truck accident in Pennsylvania page. The cross-cutting what to do after a car accident walkthrough applies to crashes generally. A few items are specific to Scranton-area trucking cases:

Photograph the truck’s identifying marks. USDOT and MC numbers, company markings on the cab and trailer, the trailer license plate, and visible cargo. These identify the motor carrier, the lessor, and the cargo loader, all of whom may be defendants. See tips for taking pictures after a crash.

Get evaluated at a Lackawanna County trauma center the same day. 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 and Moses Taylor Hospital operate 24/7 emergency departments. Internal injuries, TBI, and spinal damage often have delayed symptoms that the same-day record protects.

Pull the Scranton police report through the right channel. See our walkthrough on securing a police report after a car accident in Scranton, PA.

Do not speak with the carrier’s rapid response investigator. Major carriers dispatch investigators to the scene of catastrophic crashes, sometimes before police clear the roadway. They look for a recorded statement or an early release. There are other things to avoid doing after a crash that can hurt your case.

Contact Scartelli Olszewski. We send formal preservation letters to the carrier, lessor, broker, and cargo loader within hours, and engage an accident reconstructionist if the facts warrant it.

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

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis under Pa.R.P.C. 1.5(c). You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all case costs, including expert witness fees, accident reconstruction, ELD and EDR downloads, FMCSA records work, and court filings.

If we do not win, you owe us nothing.

How Trucking Carriers Fight Your Claim

Understanding how carriers avoid paying claims helps you avoid common traps. Trucking carriers and their excess insurers run a more sophisticated defense than ordinary auto insurers because the policy stack is bigger and the exposure is real.

• Rapid Response Investigators. Major carriers dispatch investigators to the scene of any catastrophic crash, sometimes arriving before police clear the roadway. They photograph the scene, identify witnesses, and begin building a defense narrative while the injured victim is being treated.
• Quick Lowball Offers. Adjusters extend fast settlements before victims know the full extent of TBI, spinal, or orthopedic injuries. Once accepted, you cannot come back for more.
• Recorded Statements. Adjusters use your own words against you. Never give one without counsel.
• Defense Medical Examinations. A doctor of the carrier’s choosing under Pa.R.C.P. 4010 routinely minimizes injuries and disputes causation.
• Comparative Negligence Blame-Shifting. Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102 reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault and bars it entirely if you are more than 50 percent at fault. In trucking cases, the carrier will argue the passenger-vehicle driver lingered in a no-zone, failed to brake in time, or otherwise contributed. Every percentage point insurers can shift onto you reduces what they pay.
• Spoliation by Inaction. ELD data, dashcam video, EDR downloads, and dispatch records are perishable. Carriers know that if they do not affirmatively preserve, the data quietly disappears. We send formal preservation letters within hours and pursue spoliation sanctions where appropriate.
• Delay. Carriers know that medical bills and lost wages create financial pressure that pushes victims to accept less than the case is worth.

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 under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8371 with additional damages beyond the original loss. We pursue those claims when the facts support them.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Scranton Truck Crash

Trucking cases usually involve several potential defendants beyond the driver. Identifying every party responsible for the crash is how we maximize recovery and prevent defendants from pointing fingers at one another to escape accountability.

• The Truck Driver. Drivers are personally liable for negligence within the scope of employment. Speeding, fatigue, distraction, impairment, failure to inspect the vehicle, and FMCSA violations all establish driver-side fault.
• The Motor Carrier (Employer). Under respondeat superior, motor carriers are vicariously liable for driver negligence within the scope of employment. Carriers also face direct claims for negligent hiring, retention, training, supervision, and entrustment under Pennsylvania common law, and for systemic failures in compliance with FMCSA regulations.
• Brokers and Shippers. Where a freight broker or shipper selected a carrier with documented safety problems, claims may be available for negligent selection. Shippers also bear residual responsibility for cargo loading where they retain control of loading or sealing.
• Cargo Loaders. Cargo loading parties must follow cargo securement rules under 49 C.F.R. Part 393. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo causes rollovers, jackknifes, and spilled-load crashes. Overweight loads stress brakes and increase stopping distances beyond their design limits.
• Maintenance Providers. Third-party maintenance and repair companies share liability when their inspection and repair failures contribute to mechanical-cause crashes. Brake failures and tire blowouts are recurring fact patterns.
• Equipment Manufacturers. Defective brakes, tires, steering components, and coupling devices create product liability claims against the designer, manufacturer, and distributor.
• Government Entities. Dangerous road design, construction zone failures, missing or inadequate signage, malfunctioning traffic controls, and failure to maintain roadways can create partial liability for a municipality, county, or PennDOT. Government claims carry strict notice requirements under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522(a) and shorter deadlines than standard claims.

How Do I Prove Negligence in a Pennsylvania Truck Accident Case?

To recover compensation, you must prove the driver and (where applicable) the carrier and other defendants were negligent. Pennsylvania law requires four elements:

• Duty: The driver and the carrier owed you a duty of care. All commercial drivers and motor carriers must operate in compliance with Pennsylvania traffic law and the FMCSA regulations that apply to interstate motor carriers.
• Breach: The driver or carrier violated that duty. Driving over hours-of-service limits, falsifying logs, dispatching a driver while impaired, deferring required brake maintenance, or failing to qualify a driver under Part 391 all constitute breach. FMCSA violations also provide a basis for negligence per se under Pennsylvania law where the regulation defines the standard of conduct.
• Causation: The breach directly caused the crash and your injuries.
• Damages: You suffered actual harm.

We gather the evidence to prove fault on each element: police reports, sworn witness statements, traffic camera footage, dashcam video, ELD records, EDR downloads, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol test results, dispatch communications, trip envelopes, weigh station records, and accident reconstruction expert testimony. Trucking carriers challenge one or more elements in every case. We anticipate their arguments and build evidence to defeat them.

How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

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 under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524.
• Wrongful Death: Two years from the date of death under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301.
• Government Claims: Six months to file a written notice of claim under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522(a) for tort claims against Commonwealth agencies (including PennDOT) and local government entities. Notice is a prerequisite to suit.
• Federal Vehicles: Federal Tort Claims Act claims (involving postal vehicles, federal employees on duty, etc.) require an administrative claim within two years under 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b), with only six months to file suit after denial.

The 2-year statute is the outer limit. The practical deadline is much earlier. ELD data, dashcam video, and EDR downloads are perishable in days, not years. We move immediately.

Federal Trucking Regulations You Should Understand

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations under 49 C.F.R. Parts 350 through 399 govern most aspects of interstate trucking operations. Violations are powerful evidence in a civil case.

Driver Qualification (49 C.F.R. Part 391). Carriers must verify driver qualifications, prior employment, medical certification, and motor vehicle records before placing a driver behind the wheel. Hiring or retaining an unqualified driver supports a negligent hiring claim.

Hours of Service (49 C.F.R. Part 395). Property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window, with 60/70-hour limits over 7/8 consecutive days. Driving outside these limits, or operating without a compliant ELD, supports negligence and negligence per se claims. Falsified logs are a common pattern.

Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 C.F.R. Part 382). Pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty testing programs are mandatory. Drivers and carriers that bypass the program, mishandle a positive result, or return a driver to duty without follow-up testing face direct exposure.

Driving Rules (49 C.F.R. Part 392). Includes the federal handheld phone ban under § 392.82 (texting prohibition under § 392.80 for CMV drivers). Cell phone records subpoenaed in a trucking case can prove a Part 392 violation at the moment of impact.

Vehicle Equipment and Cargo Securement (49 C.F.R. Part 393). Brake systems, tires, lighting, mirrors, coupling devices, and cargo securement requirements. Equipment failures and shifted cargo each support distinct theories of liability.

Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance (49 C.F.R. Part 396). Pre-trip and post-trip inspections, periodic inspections, and maintenance records. Deferred maintenance and skipped inspections produce documentable patterns the carrier cannot explain away once we have the records.

Common Causes of Scranton Truck Accidents

Trucking causes recur across cases. Identifying the cause drives the discovery plan and the theory of liability. We have covered the underlying patterns across our blog: see common causes of truck accidents, seven common causes of trucking accidents, and common errors made by truck drivers.

• Driver Fatigue. The leading factor in a meaningful share of serious truck crashes. Fatigue performance impairment compares to alcohol intoxication. ELD audits, log reconciliation against fuel receipts and toll records, and dispatch communications expose hours-of-service violations.
• Speeding and Aggressive Driving. A loaded combination vehicle at highway speed needs hundreds of feet to stop. Speeding into a closing gap, tailgating, and aggressive lane changes cause crashes that ordinary defensive driving by surrounding traffic cannot avoid.
• Distracted Driving. Handheld use, in-cab device use, eating, and inattention. The federal handheld and texting bans under 49 C.F.R. §§ 392.80 and 392.82 produce a violation finding when proven, on top of common-law negligence.
• Impaired Driving. Alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs. The Part 382 testing program produces a documentary record we can subpoena.
• Equipment Failure. Brake-out-of-adjustment failures, tire blowouts, steering failures, and coupling failures. Carrier maintenance records, inspection reports, and CSA Vehicle Maintenance BASIC scores tell the story.
• Improper Cargo Securement. Shifted, unsecured, or overweight loads cause rollovers and jackknifes. Cargo securement claims often run parallel to the driver and carrier defendants and reach the loader directly under Part 393.
• Weather Adjustments Not Made. Pennsylvania winters demand reduced speed and increased following distance on I-81 and I-84. Drivers and carriers are not absolved of fault when they fail to adjust. See our take on winter driving and trucks on ice.
• Blind Spot Failures. Commercial trucks have substantial no-zones on all sides. Failure to check mirrors before lane changes is a recurring cause of sideswipe crashes. See truck blind spots and passing on the right.
• Inadequate Training. Carriers that hire out the driver shortage to under-trained operators expose themselves to negligent training and entrustment claims.
• Negligent Hiring and Retention. Carriers that retain drivers with documented prior unsafe driving, prior crashes, prior positive test results, or recent license suspensions face direct exposure on top of vicarious liability.

Common Truck Accident Crash Types

Different crash types require different reconstruction approaches and expert witnesses. See our overview of the most common types of truck accidents and our explainer on why truck crashes are different from car crashes.

• Underride Collisions. Smaller vehicles slide beneath the trailer, shearing the upper structure and producing catastrophic head and neck injuries. Federal rear underride guard standards exist; side underride protection remains inadequate. These cases often involve crashworthiness theory in addition to driver and carrier liability.
• Jackknife Crashes. Trailer swings out and forms an angle with the cab. Hard braking on slick roads, improper braking technique, and brake imbalance are the recurring causes. Jackknifed trucks block multiple lanes and cause secondary collisions.
• Rollover Crashes. Top-heavy trucks tip over during sharp turns, sudden lane-change maneuvers, or with shifting cargo. Rollovers commonly close highways and produce chain-reaction crashes.
• Rear-End Collisions. Trucks following too closely or failing to stop in time. A loaded combination vehicle striking a passenger vehicle from behind delivers crushing force.
• Wide-Turn Crashes (“Squeeze Plays”). Drivers swing left before turning right and trap vehicles between the truck and the curb. Often happen in downtown areas and at right turns from secondary streets onto larger roads.
• Head-On Collisions. Trucks crossing the centerline due to fatigue, distraction, impairment, or attempted passing on undivided highways. Combined closing speeds drive catastrophic outcomes.
• Lane-Change and Sideswipe Crashes. Failure to check no-zones before merging.
• Cargo Spill Crashes. Unsecured cargo falls from the trailer and forces following traffic to swerve or strike debris.
• Work Zone Crashes. Construction zone speed reductions ignored. Pennsylvania doubles fines for work zone violations and active work zones produce recurring chain-reaction patterns.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

The weight disparity between an 80,000-pound combination vehicle and a 4,000-pound passenger car drives an injury profile that skews toward the catastrophic end of the spectrum.

• Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury. From mild concussion through severe TBI causing permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality change, and inability to return to work.
• Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis. Lifetime care for paraplegia and tetraplegia routinely runs into the millions. These claims demand life-care planning, vocational analysis, and economic-loss expert testimony.
• Fractures and Crush Injuries. Compound fractures, crushed limbs, and shattered pelvises requiring surgical repair with hardware and extensive rehabilitation.
• Internal Organ Damage. Internal bleeding and organ damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. Often not visible externally and life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed.
• Burns. Fuel ignition or hazardous-material releases produce severe burns with permanent disfigurement and lengthy reconstructive surgery.
• Amputations. Crush injuries that destroy limbs beyond surgical repair.
• 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 negligence causes death, surviving families can pursue a wrongful death claim under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301 and a survival action under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8302 for funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship.

Truck Accidents in Lackawanna County and Scranton

Scranton sits at the convergence of I-81, I-84, I-380, and the I-476 Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Northeastern Pennsylvania warehousing and distribution corridor along I-81, anchored by major fulfillment centers in Dunmore, Jessup, Olyphant, Pittston, and Hazle Township to the south, drives sustained heavy commercial traffic through the county. The combination of high freight volume, mountain road grades on I-380 and on Route 6, and seasonal weather produces a recurring serious-crash 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. State and county heavy-truck crash and fatality counts will be footnoted on the live page from PennDOT.
• High-Frequency Corridors. The I-81 corridor through Dunmore, Dickson City, and Jessup near warehouse-district exits; the I-84 / I-380 interchange near Dunmore; the I-476 Turnpike interchange near Clarks Summit; the Route 6 commercial corridor; and Route 307. Specific corridor-level crash counts will be added at launch from PennDOT OpenData.
• Trauma Care. Geisinger Community Medical Center on Mulberry Street is a Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Level II accredited trauma center serving Lackawanna County. Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital operate 24/7 emergency departments.
• Where We File. Truck accident lawsuits in this market are filed and tried in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas at 200 Adams Avenue. Our office at 411 Jefferson Avenue is minutes away.

A wide-turn crash at a downtown intersection, a rear-end on I-81 in fog, and an underride on Route 6 are different cases legally and factually. We evaluate every crash in the context of where it happened, what caused it, and which carrier, broker, loader, and government entity can be held responsible.

Scranton Truck Accident FAQ

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost in Scranton?

Nothing upfront. Scartelli Olszewski works on a contingency fee basis under Pa.R.P.C. 1.5(c). The firm advances all case expenses, including expert fees, accident reconstruction, ELD and EDR downloads, FMCSA records work, and court filings. You pay a fee only if the case results in a settlement or verdict.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

Two years from the date of the crash under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. For wrongful death claims, two years from the date of death under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301. Claims against government entities require a written notice of claim within six months under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522(a). Practically, evidence preservation work needs to start within days.

What evidence is preserved in a truck accident case?

ELD records, EDR downloads, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol test results, dispatch communications, trip envelopes, weigh station records, dashcam and surveillance footage, maintenance and inspection records, CSA Safety Measurement System data, and driver employment history. Most of this is discoverable only after a formal preservation letter goes out.

Can I sue the trucking company if the driver caused the accident?

Yes. Under respondeat superior, motor carriers are vicariously liable for driver negligence within the scope of employment. Carriers also face direct claims for negligent hiring, retention, training, supervision, and entrustment, and for systemic failures of FMCSA compliance.

Can I sue the freight broker or shipper?

Sometimes. A broker or shipper that selected a carrier with documented safety problems may face a negligent selection claim. The law on broker liability and federal preemption under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A) is evolving and circuit-split. We assess broker exposure case by case.

What if the truck driver was not cited by police?

You can still file a civil claim. Police citations address criminal violations, not civil liability. Many trucking-case theories, including Part 391 qualification failures, Part 395 hours-of-service violations, Part 393 cargo securement failures, and negligent hiring, never appear in a police report.

Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Yes, if you were not more than 50 percent at fault under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule at 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.

What if I was hit by a delivery van or smaller commercial vehicle?

Many of the same principles apply, though FMCSA jurisdiction depends on weight class and operating authority. Delivery truck crashes involving Amazon DSPs, FedEx Ground contractors, UPS, and last-mile carriers each present their own driver-vs-employer-vs-broker framework that we work through case by case.

How much is a truck accident case in Scranton worth?

Case value depends on injury severity, future care needs, lost wages and earning capacity, fault clarity, available coverage, and the strength of the carrier’s safety record (a poor record supports punitive exposure). Catastrophic injury cases in trucking routinely move into seven and eight figures because of the size of the policy stack and the severity of the injuries.

What if my loved one was killed in a truck accident?

Spouses, children, and parents can file wrongful death claims under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301 and a survival action under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8302. Learn who can file under Pennsylvania law.

Should I accept the carrier’s first settlement offer?

Almost never. Initial offers rarely reflect the full value of the case and typically do not account for future medical needs, future earning capacity, or punitive exposure. We audit carrier offers against the policy stack, the strength of liability proofs, and PA case precedent.

Speak With a Scranton Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Pennsylvania gives you two years to file most truck accident claims and as little as six months for government claims. Practically, evidence preservation work needs to start within days. 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. Get a Scranton trial lawyer on your side.

(570) 346-2600 Scranton office | Start your free consultation

Our Scranton office at 411 Jefferson Avenue represents truck accident victims throughout Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Dunmore, Dickson City, Old Forge, Moosic, Taylor, Throop, Olyphant, Jessup, Archbald, Carbondale, and Clarks Summit. 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.