At Munley Law, our drunk driving accident lawyers in Scranton see firsthand how one reckless decision can shatter lives in seconds. A driver who chooses to get behind the wheel while intoxicated puts everyone on the road at risk, and when a crash happens, innocent people are left dealing with painful injuries, exorbitant medical bills, lost income, and long-term life changes. These crashes are especially devastating because they are entirely avoidable.
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver in Scranton or anywhere in Lackawanna County, you may have the right to pursue compensation beyond what’s available in a typical car accident claim. Drunk driving cases often involve criminal charges, higher levels of negligence, and additional sources of liability. Understanding how these factors affect your case is key to recovering the full financial support you need to move forward.
Our award-winning Scranton car accident attorneys know how to build strong, evidence-based claims that hold reckless drivers—and anyone else responsible—fully accountable. We combine deep knowledge of Pennsylvania DUI laws with nearly seven decades of experience handling serious injury cases, and we fight for maximum compensation so you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life.
Contact Munley Law today to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can assist you.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 DUI Laws and Your Scranton Car Accident Case
Pennsylvania has strict laws against drunk driving, with penalties that increase based on the driver’s level of intoxication. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802, it is illegal to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and violations can significantly strengthen your civil case if you were injured by a drunk driver in Scranton or Lackawanna County. Understanding these laws helps us build stronger cases for our clients.
In Pennsylvania, drivers are legally intoxicated at 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC). However, drivers can be charged with DUI at lower levels if their driving shows impairment. Pennsylvania divides DUI into three categories:
- General Impairment (0.08-0.099% BAC)
- High BAC (0.10-0.159% BAC)
- Highest BAC (0.16% and above)
Higher BAC levels result in more severe criminal penalties and often strengthen our arguments for increased compensation in civil cases. Drivers who refuse breath or blood testing face automatic license suspension and are treated as having the highest BAC level for penalty purposes. This is known as implied consent law.
These criminal penalties exist because drunk driving is dangerous and illegal. When drunk drivers cause accidents, they should face full responsibility for the harm they cause.
DUI laws in Pennsylvania apply not only to alcohol but also to drug impairment, including illegal drugs, prescription medications, and substances that affect safe driving. In many cases, a DUI violation serves as strong evidence of negligence in a civil injury claim and may allow victims to pursue punitive damages in addition to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Because these laws create clear standards of responsibility, they play a critical role in helping drunk driving accident victims in Scranton hold negligent drivers fully accountable.
What are the Penalties for DUIs in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
DUI penalties vary based on BAC level and prior offenses. They may include:
- Fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars
- License suspension (6 to18 months or longer)
- Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD): ARD allows first-time offenders an alternative, which includes alcohol education, treatment, community service, and costs for potential dismissal.
- Mandatory alcohol highway safety school
- Installation of an ignition interlock device
- Probation or jail time (especially for repeat offenses or high BAC cases)
Local Drunk Driving Crash Data in Scranton and Lackawanna County
Drunk driving remains one of the leading causes of serious and fatal crashes across Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), thousands of alcohol-related crashes occur each year statewide, many resulting in life-altering injuries or fatalities. Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton and Lackawanna County, continues to see DUI-related collisions that could have been prevented with responsible choices. In 2024, there was a decrease in alcohol-related crashes compared to 2023. However, the numbers were still high:
- 2023: 8,337
- 2024: 7,745
In total, Lackawanna County saw 2,260 traffic accidents and 20 fatal wrecks. These statistics highlight an important truth: drunk driving crashes are not rare, and victims often suffer devastating consequences that require long-term care and financial support.
“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in compensation for our clients. When someone is seriously injured, they’re up against insurance companies with unlimited resources. My job is to level that playing field, and fight until they get the justice they deserve.”
Daniel W. Munley
How Do Criminal and Civil Cases Work Together in a Drunk Driving Accident?
When a drunk driver causes an accident, there are typically two separate legal proceedings: a criminal case where the state prosecutes the driver, and a civil case where you seek compensation for your injuries.
The criminal case often produces valuable evidence for your civil case, including police reports, blood alcohol test results, field sobriety test videos, and witness statements. Criminal cases require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt,” while civil cases only require proof “by a preponderance of evidence.” This means Munley Law can win your civil case even if the criminal case doesn’t result in a conviction.
Criminal courts may order the drunk driver to pay restitution, but this typically covers only basic expenses and is much less than full compensation available through civil lawsuits. We carefully coordinate with criminal proceedings to ensure we gather all available evidence while protecting your right to full compensation.
Suing Bars and Restaurants for a Scranton Car Accident
Pennsylvania law allows us to pursue compensation not just from drunk drivers, but also from bars, restaurants, and other establishments that served them alcohol when they were already visibly intoxicated.
If a bar or restaurant continues serving alcohol to someone who is obviously drunk, and that person then causes an accident, the establishment can be held responsible for resulting injuries. Our Scranton drunk driving accident lawyers investigate whether the drunk driver showed obvious signs of intoxication that the establishment should have recognized, such as slurred speech, unsteady walking, or other clear indicators.
Bars and restaurants typically carry substantial liability insurance beyond what individual drivers have, potentially providing much more compensation for your injuries. We quickly preserve surveillance footage from establishments, interview servers and bartenders, and gather evidence of over-serving before it disappears.
Social Host Liability
Sometimes, drunk driving accidents involve alcohol served at private parties or social gatherings. Pennsylvania law may allow us to hold social hosts responsible under certain circumstances.
Hosts who provide alcohol to visibly intoxicated guests may bear liability if those guests subsequently cause accidents while driving. Social host liability claims are often covered by homeowner’s insurance policies, providing another source of compensation for your injuries.
We investigate the circumstances of alcohol service at private parties, including who provided alcohol and whether the drunk driver’s intoxication was obvious to hosts.
How Much is a Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth in Pennsylvania?
The value of a drunk driving accident claim depends on the severity of a victim’s injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the facts of the specific case.
Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damages
- Punitive damages, which may be awarded in drunk driving cases to punish reckless conduct.
Every case is unique, but DUI injury claims often result in higher settlements or verdicts because of the egregious nature of the driver’s behaviour.
Why Drunk Driving Cases Are Worth More
Drunk driving cases often result in higher compensation, especially when victims suffer severe harm like a spinal cord injury in Scranton.
Pennsylvania law may allow additional “punitive” damages designed to punish drunk drivers for their dangerous behavior and deter others from drinking and driving. Juries often award higher compensation in drunk driving cases because they recognize the particularly reckless nature of the behavior and want to send a strong message.
Between the drunk driver’s insurance, dram shop liability, and social host coverage, there may be multiple sources of compensation available.
Unlike other accident cases where fault may be disputed, like in a Scranton rear-end collision, drunk driving cases typically involve clear evidence of fault, making it easier to secure fair compensation.
Get a full explanation of how damages and compensation are calculated in a car accident case.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents in Scranton
Because impaired drivers often speed, drift between lanes, or fail to brake, drunk driving crashes tend to be severe. Victims frequently suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones and orthopaedic injuries
- Severe lacerations and burns
- Wrongful death in the most tragic cases
These injuries can require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.
How Long Do You Have to File a Drunk Driving Claim in Scranton?
Evidence in drunk driving cases can disappear quickly, and Pennsylvania law 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2) gives you only two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. The sooner you contact us, the better we can preserve evidence and build your case.
Insurance companies often try to settle drunk driving cases quickly for less than they’re worth, hoping victims don’t understand their full rights. These tactics are common after serious crashes, which is why it helps to know how insurance companies handle accident claims in Scranton before speaking with them. Don’t make important decisions about your case without first consulting with our experienced attorneys.
Munley Law’s lawyers have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Siper Lawyers, Lawdragon, and the Itish Legal 200, and have won numerous awards and accolades from these and other respected organizations. Additionally, all our attorneys are members of the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and all five of our partners have AV Preeminent Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating you can receive on the platform.
Get the Justice You Deserve
If a drunk driver in Scranton has injured you, you deserve more than just basic compensation. You deserve justice that reflects the serious and illegal nature of drunk driving.
Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain all your options, and fight to ensure the drunk driver and anyone else who contributed to your injuries is held fully accountable.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on March 9, 2026.
