If you’ve been injured in a crash, our Carbondale car accident lawyers can make all the difference when dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, and police reports feels overwhelming. Too many accident victims accept less than they’re owed simply because they don’t know where to turn. That’s where Munley Law comes in.
Munley Law has been representing car accident victims across Susquehanna and Lackawanna County for nearly 70 years. That experience is recognized nationally. J. Christopher Munley is named to the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, a distinction held by only a small number of the state’s trial attorneys. Marion Munley has been named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation. Every partner holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating available, based on confidential evaluations from attorneys and judges who have seen their work firsthand.
Those credentials come from winning cases. Munley Law’s car accident results include $20 million recovered for a pedestrian who suffered catastrophic injuries when a car struck her, and a $1.9 million verdict for a family seriously injured when a teenage driver hit their vehicle.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident in Carbondale, contact our personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What Are the Common Types of Car Crashes in Carbondale, PA?
The most common car accidents in Carbondale, PA, are:
- Rear-End Accident: A rear-end accident occurs when one vehicle hits another from behind. In many cases, a rear-end accident commonly occurs because the driver in the rear did not leave enough room between themselves and the car in front of them.
- Head-On Collision: While any car accident can be dangerous, a head-on collision is particularly notorious for serious injury and death. The extreme force of two vehicles hitting each other (especially at high speeds) from the opposite direction can cause catastrophic injuries to the drivers and passengers in both vehicles. This is especially true if a passenger car is involved in a head-on collision with a commercial truck.
- Sideswipe Accident: A sideswipe accident usually occurs when merging on a highway or any multiple-lane road. It happens when a car merges into a neighboring lane and hits another car, usually going in the same direction. Brooklyn Street is a curvy, hilly, two-lane highway. It is extremely easy for a driver to have multiple blind spots while navigating the road, easily causing a sideswipe accident.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrian accidents occur when a motor vehicle hits a person walking or biking on or near the roadway.
- Rollover Crash: A rollover crash can cause serious injury and death. This type of accident happens when a driver loses control of his or her car and the vehicle literally rolls over onto its roof. In Carbondale, rollover crashes can happen easily with the curvy roadways. These types of accidents often happen on the highway when a car accelerates at a high speed and has enough force to flip over fully.
According to the most recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Lackawanna County saw 2,259 car accidents, with 16 fatalities and over 1,000 injured victims. A car accident can be traumatic to you and your family. If you were injured in a car crash in Carbondale, contact a Carbondale car accident attorney at Munley Law for a free consultation.
What Causes Accidents in Carbondale?
Not all accidents can be avoided; they are often just that—accidents. However, accidents can also happen because of negligence. When negligence causes an accident, the person at fault needs to be held accountable.
- Drunk Driving: Drugs and alcohol cause fatigue, slower reaction times, and impaired judgment. These factors make the roads less safe, not only for the impaired driver but also for other drivers sharing the road.
- Drowsy Driving: As stated before, Pennsylvania highways are major trucking routes. Truck drivers are often pressured to drive long hours in order to speed up delivery times. Driving while fatigued can slow a driver’s reactions or even cause them to fall asleep at the wheel.
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver’s focus off the road. Texting, emailing, playing with the radio, eating, and talking to other passengers are all examples of distracted driving. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in Carbondale and in the entire United States.
- Speeding: In today’s rushed society, everyone is always in a hurry, and many don’t follow the speed limit. Speed limits exist for a reason. Professionals study traffic patterns on Pennsylvania roadways and decide the safest speed limit for that particular road. Traveling above the posted speed limit can cause drivers to lose control of the car or make it impossible to slow down to avoid a rear-end collision.
- Poor Road Conditions: Any less-than-perfect road conditions can make driving dangerous. Snow and ice make the roads slippery, while a bad rainstorm or heavy fog can make it difficult for drivers to see what’s right in front of them. Potholes and uneven pavement can cause terrible car accidents.
- Improper Road Signage: You don’t appreciate road signs until they are gone or posted incorrectly. Wind, car accidents, or even theft can cause road signs to go missing. If a road sign is posted improperly, a driver can enter a highway on the wrong side, turn down a one-way street or unknowingly stop on a railroad crossing, causing a devastating accident.
What Are the Most Common Injuries From Carbondale Car Accidents?
Since accidents are unpredictable, many victims are not financially prepared for the sudden costs of medical care. Often, victims cannot return to work right away (or perhaps ever) and face mounting medical bills without a steady paycheck.
If you suffered one of the injuries below, contact a Munley Law car accident lawyer in Carbondale. We will fight to help you get compensated for your medical costs and more.
The most common injuries from Carbondale car accidents include:
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause lifetime pain and discomfort. Since the spinal cord is the main messenger from the brain to your body, a spinal cord injury can get very serious very quickly. In the mildest of injuries, car accident victims may suffer herniated discs or whiplash. Although these are considered the more mild forms of spinal cord injuries, they are still extremely serious and can leave the victim in excruciating pain.
In more extreme cases, spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis, which changes the course of a person’s life forever.
Brain Injuries
Carbondale car accident victims may suffer from concussions, which are violent shocks to the head. Concussions should be taken seriously. Headaches, confusion, difficulty in concentration, and loss of consciousness are common symptoms.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is when a person’s brain suffers a blow from the force of the impact of a car accident. Traumatic brain injuries can leave the victim completely impaired for the rest of his or her life. Victims may need to relearn to walk, talk, eat, and take care of themselves. In the worst cases, TBI victims will never be able to live on their own again.
Lacerations and Broken Bones
Lacerations are cuts and scrapes that occur from a car accident. Deep cuts from shards of glass or metal from the vehicle can lead to serious infections and terrible scarring. Victims should seek medical attention right away.
Broken bones can halt a person’s life for several months. It can be difficult to work, travel, or do basic household chores. A severe broken bone or fracture may even require surgery. Pain and discomfort from a broken bone can last a lifetime.
Burns
Car accident victims can suffer from burns if they are ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Road rash can be severe skin abrasions when a person is thrown from or dragged by a vehicle. In some cases, the impact of a car accident can cause one or both vehicles to go up in flames, resulting in horrible burns to multiple victims.
Burns require specialized care, which can be quite expensive. Often, victims have to travel out of state to get the best care. A Munley Law car accident attorney will help you secure compensation to cover the costs of medical care, as well as any travel costs.
How Will a Carbondale Car Accident Attorney Help Your Case?
The car accident lawyers at Munley Law have extensive experience in car accident cases in Carbondale. When you choose us, we will:
- Determine who is at fault for your car accident. Many parties can be at fault in a car accident. The negligent driver is almost always responsible, at least partly. However, other parties may be held accountable for the crash, including the car manufacturers, the maintenance technicians, the local municipality, or the car or trucking company.
- After we determine fault, we will prove the at-fault parties owed you a duty of care. Duty of care is how a person is supposed to act toward others. In car accident situations, a driver’s duty of care is to be as careful as possible on the road. They must focus solely on the road, stay alert and awake, and not be cognitively impaired.
- Next, we will prove that the at-fault party or parties failed to perform this duty of care. We will review the police report, medical records, security footage, and eyewitness testimony to determine whether the other driver was texting at the time of the accident. We will note whether the driver had been driving for a long time and may have been fatigued. The accident report will tell us if the driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol during the accident. We will work with an accident reconstruction team to determine exactly how the accident happened and how it was the other driver’s fault.
- Then, we will prove that the other driver’s negligence directly caused your injuries. This is one of the main reasons it is essential to seek medical care immediately following an accident. Medical records are key to proving your injuries from the Carbondale car accident.
- Finally, we will determine the damages you should receive from the other party or parties. The damages can include current and future medical expenses, lost wages or loss of future earnings, capacity, pain and suffering, and wrongful death.
The amount of damages you will recover largely depends on the severity of your injuries. Your Carbondale car accident lawyer will work to pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Cases in Carbondale
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
You should hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Early legal representation helps protect your rights and preserve evidence before it disappears.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?
Ensure everyone’s safety first, seek medical attention, report the accident to police, document the scene and gather evidence, and contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law (42 Pa. C.S. § 5524), you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the crash, this two-year period doesn’t begin until they turn 18.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive After a Car Accident?
You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other related losses.
How Can Munley Law Assist With My Car Accident Case?
We offer free consultations and have decades of experience in personal injury litigation. Our team will guide you through the claims process and fight for the compensation you’re owed.
Contact a Carbondale Car Accident Lawyer Now
Car accident victims in Carbondale have two years to file a lawsuit to recover losses from their car crash. While that may seem like a long time, medical bills pile up quickly, and the claims process can be lengthy.
Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation to get the process started. If you need help dealing with the insurance company after a car accident in Carbondale, we’re here to help.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning auto accident lawyer and advocate for auto accident victims. Widely recognized as a national leader when it comes to truck and rideshare accident cases, Daniel has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, alongside being named to Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and in 2020. Daniel has helped recover millions for injured auto accident victims, such as a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and another $4.4 million settlement reached for car accident case. As well as this, Daniel has advocated for victims through speaking arrangements such as “Pennsylvania Practice Program: Auto and Trucking Cases.”
