Car Accidents Lawyers
Serious crashes across Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.
Car Accidents claims in Pennsylvania
Car crashes are the most common source of serious injury claims in Pennsylvania. What a claim can recover depends heavily on the coverage each driver selected, how the injuries are documented, and how carefully the early stages are handled.
Pennsylvania drivers choose between limited tort and full tort when they buy a policy, and that single choice can change what is recoverable after a crash.
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Free case review — tell us what happened and we'll take it from there.Common types of car accidents
Rear-end collisions
Frequently linked to distraction or following too closely, and a common source of neck and back injuries.
Intersection and left-turn crashes
Failure to yield at intersections produces a large share of serious injury collisions.
Head-on collisions
Often involve crossing the centre line, wrong-way driving or loss of control.
Side-impact crashes
Occupants have less structure between them and the striking vehicle.
Multi-vehicle pile-ups
Fault can be shared among several drivers and takes careful reconstruction.
Single-vehicle crashes
A road defect, a vehicle failure or another driver's conduct may still be involved.
Why families bring these cases to Munley Law
Munley Law has represented injured people and their families from its Scranton base since 1959. The attorneys listed below handle this type of case, and the results shown are published matters the firm has reported.
Robert W. Munley, IIIAttorney
Marion MunleyPartner
Daniel W. MunleyAttorney
Caroline MunleyManaging Partner$4.4 Million
Settlement
Settlement reached for car accident case.
$4.3 Million
Award
Jury award for a motorcycle accident victim.
$2.8 Million
Settlement
Settlement for a pedestrian accident case.
$1.9 Million
Verdict
Verdict for family injured by 16-year-old driver.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
“I am forever grateful for your respect, consideration, and kindness toward me and my daughters. May God bless and be with you both and yours forever, in all ways, in all things, in all times.”
Common causes
Distracted driving
Phones, screens and in-car controls remain a leading factor in rear-end and lane-departure crashes.
Speed and following too closely
Higher speeds reduce reaction time and sharply increase the forces involved.
Impaired driving
Alcohol and drug impairment can also support a claim against a bar or other server in some circumstances.
Failure to yield
Left turns, intersections and merges produce a large share of serious injury crashes.
Unsafe road or weather conditions
Ice, standing water, poor signage or a road defect can contribute alongside driver conduct.
How Pennsylvania car insurance affects a claim
Pennsylvania drivers choose limited tort or full tort when they buy a policy. That choice, and the coverages selected, shape what a claim can include.
- Medical benefits (first-party benefits) pay for treatment regardless of who was at fault
- Limited tort generally restricts claims for pain and suffering unless an exception applies
- Full tort preserves the right to claim those damages
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may apply when the other driver has little or no insurance
- Stacking, household exclusions and notice requirements can each affect available coverage
How fault is decided
Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence: an injured person may still recover if they are not more at fault than the other party, and the award is reduced by their share of responsibility.
Fault is a question of evidence, not opinion. Nothing on this page determines fault in any particular crash.
- The police crash report and any citations issued
- Photographs, dashcam and nearby surveillance footage
- Vehicle damage patterns and event data recorder information
- Independent witness accounts
- Roadway, signage and weather conditions at the time
Injuries frequently seen in these cases
- Whiplash and other neck and back injuries
- Concussion and traumatic brain injury
- Fractures, particularly of the ribs, wrist and lower leg
- Herniated discs requiring injections or surgery
- Internal injuries that may not be obvious at the scene
Who may be responsible
Responsibility depends entirely on the facts, and no one can determine it from a web page. These are the parties whose conduct is typically examined.
Another driver
The most common scenario — speed, distraction, impairment or a failure to yield.
An employer
Where the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash.
A vehicle or parts manufacturer
Airbag, seatbelt, tire or stability-system failures.
A government road authority
Design or maintenance of the roadway, with shorter notice deadlines.
Damages that may be recoverable
What a claim may include depends on the injuries, the available insurance and the evidence. Nothing here is a prediction of value.
- Medical treatment already received, from the emergency room through rehabilitation
- Future medical care and therapy a physician expects will be needed
- Wages lost while unable to work, and reduced earning capacity in longer-term cases
- Property damage, out-of-pocket costs and travel to treatment
- Pain, suffering and loss of life's pleasures where the law allows it
Steps that protect a claim
- Get medical attention, even if the injuries seem minor at first
- Report what happened and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles or the hazard, and your visible injuries
- Collect names and phone numbers for anyone who saw what happened
- Keep every bill, record and piece of correspondence in one place
- Be careful giving a recorded statement before you understand your own injuries
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full tort and limited tort?
Limited tort generally restricts recovery for pain and suffering unless an exception applies, such as a serious injury. Full tort preserves the right to claim those damages. Which applies depends on your policy and the facts.
What if the other driver had no insurance?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy may apply. Those claims have their own notice requirements and are handled against your own insurer.
Should I give the other insurer a recorded statement?
You are generally not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. It is reasonable to wait until you understand your injuries and have spoken with a lawyer.
What if I was partly at fault?
Pennsylvania uses comparative negligence: a person may still recover if they are not more at fault than the other party, with the award reduced by their share. How fault is assessed depends on the evidence.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim?
Two years from the date of the crash is the general Pennsylvania rule under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524, with exceptions. Claims involving a government entity often require notice much sooner.
Question not answered here? Ask Robert — Munley's virtual intake assistant answers common car accidents questions 24/7.
Related guides, tools and pages
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Where we serve
Munley Law represents clients across Pennsylvania. See the areas we serve for local courts, hospitals and roads, or browse the free tools.
This page is general information about this type of case. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Last reviewed 2026-09-01.
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