Scranton Car Accident Lawyer

After a serious car accident in Scranton, you need an experienced car accident lawyer who understands Pennsylvania’s complex injury laws and fights for fair compensation. Rieders Travis Dohrmann Mowrey Humphrey & Waters has secured multi-million dollar settlements for collision victims throughout Pennsylvania, including vehicle/truck settlements in excess of a million dollars, in Northcentral Pennsylvania. This helps our clients rebuild their lives after devastating injuries.

Our Williamsport-based attorneys serve injured clients throughout the Scranton area, providing free telephone consultations to discuss your accident and explain your legal options. With decades of experience handling motor vehicle collision cases in Pennsylvania courts, we know how to build strong claims that insurance companies take seriously.

Key Takeaways

Pennsylvania’s Financial Responsibility Law means that you have a tort election. There is a choice between limited as opposed to full tort. There are many other waivers and inclusions within the Financial Responsibility Law. These directly impact what damages you may recover after an accident, making early legal consultation essential
The state’s modified comparative negligence rule allows recovery if you are 50% or less at fault, but your compensation reduces proportionally to your fault percentage
Limited tort policyholders must prove “serious injury” to access pain and suffering damages, while full tort preserves complete compensation rights. Even though you may have chosen limited tort, it does not apply in all situations. You may also have underinsurance and uninsured motorist rights.
Documentation starting immediately after your accident, including medical records, photographs, and recovery journals, significantly strengthens your claim value
Exceptions to limited tort restrictions exist for drunk driving accidents, truck accidents, and out-of-state drivers, potentially allowing full compensation regardless of your coverage. There are other occasions where the signed waivers may not apply.

Why Choose Rieders Travis Dohrmann Mowrey Humphrey & Waters as Your Scranton Personal Injury Lawyer?

Selecting an experienced auto accident lawyer could make a difference between accepting an inadequate insurance settlement and obtaining compensation that truly addresses your losses. Our attorneys focus on securing compensation that fully addresses the financial and personal impact of your injuries.

Our attorneys are familiar with the Scranton area court system and frequently work with local medical professionals and other resources to build a comprehensive view of our clients’ injuries and recovery needs. Many of these cases may be brought in federal court which could be assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes Barre area or even Williamsport and Harrisburg. Having experience in the federal court system is extremely important. Our lawyers could handle your claim while you focus on recovery, from investigating the collision scene to negotiating with insurance adjusters who try to minimize your compensation.

Experienced personal injury attorneys at Rieders Travis personally manage each case from initial consultation through resolution. This direct attorney involvement means you receive guidance from lawyers who have shaped Pennsylvania injury law through published legal treatises and state committee service. Attorney Rieders has written the leading textbook on the Financial Responsibility Law, which governs auto cases in Pennsylvania, which is used by many lawyers throughout the state. He also teaches widely on the subject. He is a Nationally Board-Certified Trial Lawyer.

We offer free telephone consultations for all personal injury cases, allowing you to discuss your Scranton car accident without leaving home or worrying about upfront costs. Our contingency fee structure means you pay nothing unless we obtain compensation for your injuries.

What Am I Owed for My Pennsylvania Car Accident?

Determining appropriate compensation after a motor vehicle collision requires careful analysis of both immediate costs and long-term impacts. Pennsylvania law recognizes multiple categories of damages that injured parties may recover through insurance claims or civil litigation.

Economic damages form the foundation of most car accident claims. These quantifiable losses may include:

Medical, hospital, and rehabilitation expenses from emergency treatment through ongoing rehabilitation
Lost wages during recovery and reduced earning capacity if injuries prevent returning to previous work
Vehicle repair or replacement costs.

Additionally, you could recover non-economic damages. These damages address the human cost of accidents that numbers fail to capture. Emotional distress and suffering, loss of life enjoyment, and permanent scarring or disfigurement all potentially merit compensation under Pennsylvania law.

Scranton’s Dangerous Roads and Accident Statistics

Scranton’s unique geography and traffic patterns create specific accident risks that local drivers face daily. The convergence of Interstate 81, Interstate 84, and Interstate 380 near the city generates heavy truck traffic mixing with commuter vehicles, particularly during morning and evening rush hours.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data shows Lackawanna County experiences thousands of reportable crashes annually. Specific high-risk areas where our firm has represented numerous accident victims include:

Interstate 81 corridor through Scranton, where speed differentials between trucks and passenger vehicles cause rear-end collisions
Route 6 Business (Biden Expressway) interchange areas, particularly near the University of Scranton campus
Mulberry Street downtown corridor, where pedestrian accidents occur frequently near government buildings and businesses
Interstate 380 approach to Scranton, where weather conditions on Pocono Mountain roads create seasonal hazards
North Main Avenue commercial district, where turning movements into parking lots generate side-impact crashes

Understanding these local accident patterns helps our attorneys investigate crashes effectively and identify contributing factors that strengthen liability arguments. Scranton’s mix of commuter traffic, university students, and tourist visitors heading to the Poconos creates unique challenges that generic legal approaches miss.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Motor vehicle collisions occur in various circumstances throughout Scranton and surrounding Pennsylvania communities. Rieders Travis Dohrmann Mowrey Humphrey & Waters handles all collision types, from catastrophic multi-vehicle crashes to complex auto and truck accidents. Our attorneys understand how different crash dynamics create specific injury patterns and liability considerations:

Rear-End Collisions
Intersection Accidents
T-Bone Collisions
Head-On Collisions
Sideswipe Accidents
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups
Highway Speed Collisions
Pedestrian Accidents
Bicycle Accidents
Motorcycle Crashes
Truck Accidents
Bus Accidents
Rideshare Vehicle Accidents
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Drunk Driving Crashes
Distracted Driving Accidents
Weather-Related Collisions.

Each collision type presents unique legal challenges requiring thorough investigation and evidence collection. Our attorneys analyze crash dynamics, review police reports, and consult accident reconstruction experts, if necessary, to build strong compensation claims for injured victims throughout the Williamsport area.

Common Car Accident Injuries in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Motor vehicle collisions generate tremendous forces that the human body cannot withstand without injury. Even seemingly minor crashes at low speeds transfer enough energy to cause lasting damage, requiring extensive medical treatment. Because Scranton is so close to New York, Delaware, and New Jersey, many of these cases wind up in federal court. Cliff Rieders clerked in the federal court system for a renowned federal judge and has a great deal of experience in the federal courts.

Some common injuries you may experience following a crash include:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Spinal Cord Injuries
Fractures
Soft Tissue Injuries
Internal Organ Damage
Whiplash
Herniated Discs
Concussions
Lacerations
Burns.

After an injury accident, you should be certain to seek medical care and follow any prescribed medical treatment. This is important not only to your health but to your insurance claim.

Pennsylvania’s Full Tort as Opposed to Limited Tort System and My Car Collision

Pennsylvania operates under the Financial Responsibility Law insurance system which is complex and directly affects compensation rights after car/truck accidents. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania drivers choose between limited tort and full tort coverage when purchasing auto insurance. This choice can ultimately determine what damages you may pursue after an accident.

Limited Tort vs. Full Tort Coverage

Limited tort coverage restricts your ability to seek pain and suffering damages/a> unless you prove “serious injury” under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705. Pennsylvania courts define serious injury as death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Meeting this threshold requires medical evidence.

Full tort coverage preserves unrestricted access to all damage types, including pain and suffering, without proving serious injury. While costing more in premiums, full tort may prove valuable for accidents causing chronic pain or quality-of-life impacts.

Key Exceptions to Limited Tort Restrictions

Limited tort restrictions do not apply in certain situations, potentially allowing full damage recovery regardless of coverage selection. These exceptions include:

Drunk driving accidents (DUI conviction required)
Out-of-state vehicle collisions
Truck or bus accidents
Accidents involving uninsured motorists
Pedestrian or bicycle accidents.

Even though you may have chosen limited tort, sometimes it does not apply. There are cases where the insurance company has not obtained a proper up-to-date waiver or where the waiver is ineffective for other reasons.

First-Party Benefits

Regardless of tort election, Pennsylvania’s Financial Responsibility Law provides immediate first-party benefits through your own insurance. Medical coverage pays reasonable treatment costs without deductibles, and income loss benefits replace 80% of gross income up to policy limits. Most people purchase only $5,000 in their own medical/hospital coverage, before other insurance kicks in.

Making the Insurance Claim

Your tort election significantly influences settlement negotiations and compensation potential. Understanding how Pennsylvania’s Financial Responsibility Law affects your specific situation requires careful analysis of policy language, injury severity, and applicable exceptions.

Insurance companies evaluate claims differently based on tort elections. Limited tort claims face immediate scrutiny regarding serious injury thresholds. Full tort claims, on the other hand, typically receive more comprehensive evaluations since all damage types remain available.

Successful claims require a strategic presentation of medical evidence and thorough documentation. First-party benefit claims should begin immediately while building the liability case. Coordinating these parallel claims demands understanding of Pennsylvania’s insurance regulations and policy interactions.

Cliff Reiders is the author of Pennsylvania’s Financial Responsibility Law textbook which is
commonly used by lawyers in this field of practice.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Scranton

Following medical treatment, protecting your legal rights requires prompt action. While Pennsylvania typically allows two years to file injury lawsuits, early evidence preservation strengthens compensation claims. The statute of limitations for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, very important elements of your insurance, is longer than two years.

Critical documentation needs include medical records, injury photographs, and recovery journals detailing pain levels and limitations. These materials help establish injury severity and life impact for your claim:

Medical Documentation – Keep all appointment records, treatment plans, prescriptions, and bills.
Accident Evidence – Photograph vehicle damage, obtain police reports, save insurance correspondence.
Financial Records – Collect wage loss verification, receipts for medical equipment and transportation.
Personal Impact – Maintain a journal documenting daily pain, activity restrictions, and emotional effects.

Contact an experienced attorney before accepting settlements or giving recorded statements. Bring all documentation to your consultation for accurate claim evaluation. Legal guidance protects against mistakes that reduce compensation.

FAQ for Scranton Car Accident Lawyers

What Evidence Helps Prove the Other Driver Caused My Scranton Car Accident?

Strong evidence includes police reports citing the other driver, witness statements, traffic camera footage, vehicle damage patterns, skid mark analysis, and cell phone records showing distracted driving. Medical records linking your injuries directly to the accident also strengthen liability arguments.

How Do Scranton Weather Conditions Affect Car Accident Liability?

Pennsylvania law requires drivers to adjust speed and following distance for conditions, including snow, ice, fog, and heavy rain common in the Scranton area. Failing to account for weather when driving may constitute negligence, even if traveling below posted speed limits. When necessary, weather data and accident reconstruction can show how conditions contributed to your crash.

What if the At-Fault Driver Lacks Insurance or Has Pennsylvania Minimum Coverage?

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage from your own policy provides crucial protection when at-fault drivers carry inadequate insurance. Our lawyers review the available policies, including household member coverage, to identify compensation sources. In certain situations, Pennsylvania law allows stacking multiple policies to increase available coverage limits.

How Does Pennsylvania’s Serious Injury Threshold Affect Limited Tort Claims?

Limited tort policyholders must demonstrate serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death to recover non-economic car accident damages. Our attorneys work with medical professionals when necessary to document how injuries meet these legal standards, working to overcome any attempts to deny full compensation based on tort election.

Limited tort policyholders are not precluded from recovering unreimbursed medical,
hospital, and wage loss.

How does Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule work?

Under Pennsylvania Law (42 Pa. C.S.§7102), those who are permitted to sue in tort can recover damages so long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. However, the court will reduce your total compensation award by your percentage of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

What is the difference between a first-party claim and a third-party claim?

You file a first-party claim with your own insurance company for benefits covered under your PIP or no-fault policy or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
You file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover damages for their negligence, such as pain and suffering, lost wages, and other losses not covered by your own policy.

The Financial Responsibility Law also deals with complex issues such as liens and subrogation by insurance companies and others.

What happens if the at-fault driver’s insurance company calls me with a settlement offer?

You should never accept a settlement offer or provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Initial offers are often far less than the true value of your claim, especially before the full extent of your injuries and long-term costs are known. An attorney protects your rights and ensures you do not settle for less than you deserve.

Why is it important to document my recovery in a journal?

A recovery journal provides crucial evidence for the non-economic portion of your claim, such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
By detailing your daily pain levels, physical limitations, emotional state, and how the injuries affect your daily activities, you create a compelling record of the accident’s human impact. This documentation can significantly strengthen your case during settlement negotiations or at trial.

Get Help from an Experienced Scranton Car Accident Attorney

If you suffered injuries in a Scranton-area car accident, contact Rieders Travis Dohrmann Mowrey Humphrey & Waters at (570) 323-8711 for a free telephone consultation. Our attorneys could review your case, explain your rights under Pennsylvania law, and outline paths to fair compensation.

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we obtain a settlement or verdict. Do not accept inadequate insurance offers. Call today and let our legal team protect your rights while you focus on recovery.

Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board-Certified Trial Lawyer. He has written the definitive book utilized by most lawyers in Pennsylvania who work in the auto/truck field.

Attorney Cliff Rieders

Attorney Cliff Rieders Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board Certified Trial Lawyer practicing personal injury law. A large part of his practice involves multi-district litigation, including cases related to pharmaceuticals, vitamin supplements and medical devices. He is admitted in several state and federal courts, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. Rieders is the past regional president of the Federal Bar Association and is a life member of the distinguished American Law Institute, which promulgates proposed rules adopted by many state courts. He is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. As a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, he served on the Board for 15 years.

Not only has Rieders held many highly esteemed, leadership positions, he authored legislation related to the Patient Safety Authority and the Mcare Act, which governs medical and hospital liability actions in Pennsylvania. He authored texts upon which both practitioners and judges rely, including Pennsylvania Malpractice Laws and Forms, and Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania, the latter governing auto and truck collisions in Pennsylvania. In addition, he wrote several books on the practice of law in Pennsylvania regarding wrongful death and survivor actions, insurance bad faith, legal malpractice claims and worker rights, among others. Rieders also serves as a resource to practitioners as a regular speaker for Celesq, an arm of the world’s largest legal publisher, Thomson Reuters West Publishing.

As recognition of his wide range of contribution to his profession and of his dedication to protecting the rights of his clients, he received numerous awards, among them the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, the Milton D. Rosenberg Award, the B’nai B’rith Justice Award, and awards of recognition from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. [ Attorney Bio ]