What to Do If You Get Into a Car Crash on Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Market Street Bridge connects downtown Wilkes-Barre to the suburban communities of Kingston and Edwardsville, carrying thousands of vehicles daily across the Susquehanna River. This heavily trafficked bridge is a common site for collisions, fender-benders, and serious accidents that can leave drivers confused about what to do after a car accident. When you get into a car accident on Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre, knowing how to respond can protect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and damages.

Whether you’ve been involved in a rear-end collision during rush-hour traffic or a more serious crash caused by distracted or negligent driving, understanding the proper steps to take after a car crash on Market Street is essential. What should you do immediately after the accident? How do Pennsylvania’s traffic laws affect your claim?

These questions matter because the actions you take in the moments and hours following a collision can significantly impact your ability to secure fair compensation for medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you were injured in a car crash on Market Street Bridge or elsewhere in Luzerne County, please get in touch with our car accident lawyers in Wilkes-Barre.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Car Accident on Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Luzerne County has experienced a rise in car crashes over the past five years, increasing from 2,956 in 2020 to 3,224 in 2024. Therefore, the chances of being involved in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre are high. Taking proper action immediately after a collision protects both your health and your legal rights.

Your priority following any car crash is ensuring the safety of everyone involved and obtaining necessary medical attention. Then, follow these key steps after a car accident on Market Street Bridge:

• Check for injuries – Assess yourself, passengers, and occupants of other vehicles for injuries, and call 911 if anyone needs medical attention.
• Move to safety – If possible and safe to do so, move vehicles out of traffic lanes to prevent additional collisions on the bridge.
• Call police – Contact Wilkes-Barre police to report the accident and request an official crash report, which creates essential documentation.
• Exchange information – Obtain names, contact information, insurance details, and driver’s license numbers from all involved drivers
• Document the scene – Take photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, weather conditions, and any visible injuries.
• Identify witnesses – Collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the crash, as their statements may support your claim.

Why Medical Evaluation Is Critical After a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident

Even if you feel fine immediately following a car accident, seeking prompt medical evaluation is essential. Many serious injuries, including concussions, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage, don’t manifest symptoms until hours or even days after a collision. Delayed symptoms are widespread with whiplash and traumatic brain injuries.

Medical records create vital documentation linking your injuries directly to the accident, which insurance companies and courts require when evaluating claims. If you wait days or weeks to seek treatment, insurance adjusters may argue that your injuries resulted from something other than the collision, potentially jeopardizing your ability to recover compensation.

Additionally, some injuries worsen without prompt treatment, leading to longer recovery times and higher medical costs.

Understanding Pennsylvania Traffic Laws That Affect Your Claim

Pennsylvania operates under specific laws that directly impact how car accident victims pursue compensation. Under Pennsylvania’s Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705), drivers must select either “limited tort” or “full tort” coverage when purchasing auto insurance, which determines whether you can seek compensation for pain and suffering after an accident.

Other important legal considerations for Market Street Bridge collision claims include:

• Statute of limitations – Pennsylvania law generally provides two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit
• Comparative negligence – Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, allowing recovery if you’re less than 51% at fault for the crash
• Required insurance minimums – Pennsylvania drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident

Common Causes of Car Accidents on Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre

Car crashes on the Market Street Bridge result from various factors, many of which involve driver negligence. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s crash data, speed-related crashes accounted for 23,427 accidents in Pennsylvania in 2024, while distracted driving contributed to 9,687 crashes that same year.

The bridge’s characteristics create specific hazards that contribute to collisions. Traffic congestion during rush hours increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions when drivers fail to maintain safe following distances. The bridge’s narrow lanes and lack of shoulders leave little room for error, making even minor mistakes potentially catastrophic.

Weather conditions, including rain, snow, and ice, make the bridge surface slippery and reduce visibility for drivers. Additionally, distracted driving—including texting, eating, or adjusting controls—remains a leading cause of accidents on this busy crossing.

Construction and maintenance work periodically narrows lanes or shifts traffic patterns on the Market Street Bridge, creating confusion and unexpected hazards. Drivers unfamiliar with these temporary configurations may make sudden lane changes or brake abruptly, causing collisions. Aggressive driving behaviors, including tailgating, excessive speed, and improper lane changes, also contribute to severe crashes on the bridge.

How a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Working with an experienced Wilkes-Barre accident attorney ensures your rights remain protected throughout the claims process. Insurance companies employ teams of adjusters and lawyers focused on minimizing payouts, making legal representation essential for securing fair compensation.

A qualified Luzerne County car accident lawyer investigates the accident thoroughly, gathering evidence such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert testimony to build a strong case on your behalf.

Your attorney handles all communication with insurance companies, preventing you from making statements that could harm your claim. Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims shortly after crashes, hoping to obtain recorded statements or pressure victims into accepting inadequate settlement offers before they fully understand the extent of their injuries and damages.

An experienced Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer knows the actual value of your case and negotiates aggressively to secure maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.

If negotiations fail to produce a fair settlement, your attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. This legal support allows you to focus on recovery while professionals fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyers at Munley Law for a Free Consultation

A car accident on Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre can have life-changing consequences, but understanding what steps to take immediately after the collision and working with experienced legal representation can help you secure the compensation you need to recover.

For more information, contact Munley Law to schedule a free consultation with our experienced personal injury attorneys. We proudly serve clients throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. We’re here to fight for your rights with trusted, experienced legal support. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Munley Law
1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406

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Marion Munley

Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.

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