Car accidents happen daily on Route 309 through the North Cross Valley, on the Market Street Bridge, and at Luzerne County’s busiest intersections. When they do, the Wilkes-Barre car accident attorney you choose in the first days after your crash often determines how much compensation you recover.
Munley Law has represented car accident victims in Wilkes-Barre since 1959. Our car accident attorneys hold board certification in Civil Trial Law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and that distinction affects outcomes. Insurance companies know this firm goes to trial and wins, which consistently produces stronger settlement offers than clients receive from firms that settle everything. Munley Law has recovered more than $1 billion for injury victims across Pennsylvania.
There is no fee unless we win your case. Call our Wilkes-Barre office 24/7 for a free consultation.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Why Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Victims Choose Munley Law
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, the personal injury attorney you hire determines how seriously the insurance company takes your claim. Munley Law has tried and settled car accident cases at the Luzerne County Courthouse for over 65 years. Partner Daniel W. Munley, recognized by Best Lawyers in America and named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, has built a record that insurance adjusters know before the first call is made.
The results speak to that record:
- $17.5 million jury verdict for the families of seven teenagers killed in a drunk driving crash
- $20 million settlement for a pedestrian who suffered life-altering injuries after being struck by a driver
- $11 million settlement for a woman whose car was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer
- $9.95 million settlement for a client struck head-on by a commercial truck
These are not outliers. They are the product of a firm that prepares every case for trial, which changes how insurance companies negotiate from day one.
“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
Common Causes of Car Crashes in Wilkes-Barre, PA
Driver error causes the overwhelming majority of car accidents in Wilkes-Barre and across Luzerne County. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shows the most common contributing factors:
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving caused 9,687 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2024, 43 of them fatal. It goes beyond texting — turning down the radio or glancing at a billboard is enough to miss a stopped vehicle.
- Drowsy Driving: Fatigue is not just a commercial trucking problem. The Pennsylvania DOT recorded 2,591 drowsy driving accidents statewide in 2024, including 15 fatalities.
- Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol was a factor in 6,929 Pennsylvania car accidents in 2024, killing 128 people. Roughly one-third of all car accident fatalities nationally involve drunk driving.
- Speeding: Speed-related crashes accounted for 23,427 accidents across Pennsylvania in 2024, resulting in 357 deaths.
- Reckless Driving: Road rage, tailgating, illegal lane changes, and ignoring traffic signals all fall under reckless driving and are among the leading causes of serious injury crashes in Luzerne County.
- Weather conditions: Northeastern Pennsylvania winters bring snow, black ice, and flooded roadways that create dangerous conditions even for attentive drivers. Weather does not eliminate liability — a driver who fails to adjust for conditions is still responsible for the consequences.
Common Injuries in Wilkes-Barre Car Crashes
The injuries sustained by car accident victims in Wilkes-Barre range from minor scrapes to life-altering or life-threatening wounds. The most common car accident injuries our lawyers have seen are:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Even a minor concussion can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and long-term disability.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage that can cause partial or complete paralysis and requires care and help for the rest of your life
- Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, broken vertebrae, and soft tissue damage that causes long-term pain
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Broken ribs, arms, legs, wrists, ankles, hips, and facial bones that need surgery and rehab
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. These injuries can cause bleeding inside the body that could be fatal.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Strains, sprains, and tears that happen to muscles, tendons, and ligaments all over the body.
- Burns and Cuts: Deep cuts from broken glass or metal and severe burns from fire or hot surfaces.
- Psychological Trauma: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and fear of driving after the accident.
Our Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyers will take your physical injuries, emotional distress, and psychological trauma into consideration when calculating how much compensation to fight for. They’ll also consider your ongoing or future medical needs, as well as lifestyle needs related to your injuries, such as modifications you might require at home or in your vehicle.
Can You File a Claim if a Loved One Died in a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident?
Sadly, some car accidents in Wilkes-Barre end in death, leaving families heartbroken and looking for answers. If a loved one dies because another driver was careless, the family may be able to file a wrongful death claim. These lawsuits can provide compensation to the family of the victim to help with funeral and burial costs, medical bills that were due before death, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the deep emotional pain that surviving family members feel.
We know that no amount of money can bring back your loved one, but at Munley Law, we promise to hold those who are at fault accountable and get your family the money they need during this tough time. Our caring lawyers will help you through the legal process with care while fighting hard for the justice your family deserves. Don’t wait too long to file a wrongful death claim – under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2), Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for these cases is two years from the date of the accident.
Where are Wilkes-Barre’s High-Risk Accident Locations?
According to PennDOT, there were 3,224 traffic accidents in Luzerne County in 2024. Of those traffic accidents, 1,404 reported injuries. Although these numbers may seem low for a county of over 326,000 people, they’re still higher than those of neighboring counties of Lackawanna, Wyoming, and Schuylkill.
Some of the most dangerous locations in Wilkes-Barre are:
- North Cross Valley Expressway (Route 309): This major highway running through Luzerne County sees numerous accidents, particularly near the I-81 interchange, where complex merging patterns and high speeds create dangerous conditions. The expressway’s elevated design means accidents here are more severe, especially during winter weather when visibility can be compromised.
- River Street: River Street consistently ranks among the city’s most dangerous corridors, particularly the section near the Market Street Bridge. This area experiences heavy daily traffic and has been the site of numerous serious and fatal accidents, including a tragic bicycle fatality in 2024 that temporarily closed both the bridge and portions of River Street.
- Market Street and Market Street Bridge: This historic 1,274-foot bridge connecting Kingston and Wilkes-Barre experiences major congestion during rush hours. The approach to the bridge from both sides features multiple traffic signals and lane merges that frequently lead to rear-end collisions, motorcycle accidents, and sideswipe accidents when drivers attempt last-minute lane changes.
- Pennsylvania Avenue: Pennsylvania Avenue rounds out Wilkes-Barre’s most accident-prone roadways. This busy corridor serves as a main artery through the city and experiences a high concentration of crashes, particularly at intersections with major cross streets. Due to the road’s design and traffic volume, left-turn accidents are especially common here.
Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling cases from all these high-risk locations and understand the unique circumstances and challenges each presents. This local knowledge allows us to build stronger cases for our clients and anticipate defense strategies commonly used by insurance companies in accidents occurring at these locations.
What to Do After an Auto Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA
With all the confusion and stress of a car accident, the last thing on your mind is what your next steps should be. Instead, you are more concerned about your health, your car, and the welfare of anyone else involved in the accident. We understand this. However, we also know that saying or doing the wrong thing immediately after an accident may affect your ability to claim compensation, so it’s essential that you know what to do.
Follow these steps after a car accident:
- Get Medical Help: After an accident, no matter how minor, visit the hospital or your doctor as soon as possible. Once the adrenaline wears off, you may start feeling the pain you didn’t know you had. It can take days to start feeling the effects of a car accident. Without medical records to back up your claims of being injured, the insurance company can quickly return and say you weren’t injured in the accident.
- Gather Information: Not only do you need to get contact information from the other drivers involved, but you’ll also need the contact information of any witnesses or passengers. Their testimony may come in handy later on. Keep your conversation to a minimum when speaking to witnesses and make sure you do not admit fault. You should also take photographs or videos of the accident scene, your vehicle, the other party’s vehicle, and any injuries you may have sustained.
- Speak with the Police: Under 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3746, you must report accidents to the police if they result in death, injury, or damage that prevents vehicles from being driven safely. When the police arrive, give a brief statement. When giving your statement, do not admit fault for the accident. The police will make a report on the accident. You will need to obtain this police report as soon as it is ready to help support your claims.
- Call a Car Accident Attorney in Wilkes-Barre: Finally, contact our car accident lawyer and schedule a free consultation. Our auto accident lawyer will walk you through your next steps and offer legal advice on how to protect your claim. Even if you don’t think you need a car accident lawyer, speaking with an experienced car crash lawyer is always best.
How Fault is Determined in a Wilkes-Barre Car Crash
More than one person may be liable for a car accident, so it’s important to investigate incidents thoroughly and ensure all those responsible are held accountable. Several parties can help determine who was at fault for your car accident in Wilkes-Barre:
The Police: The first thing you should do after a car accident is call 911, even if injuries seem minor. Once the police officers take care of all immediate medical needs, they assess the accident scene. The responding officers will ask each party their interpretation of what happened and who caused the wreck. They will investigate the damage done to each car and interview any witnesses. After collecting sufficient evidence, the police officer will generate an accident report that will detail the facts of the scene, as well as a statement by the officer about who they think, in their professional opinion, was responsible for the accident.
Insurance Companies: Most drivers carry no-fault auto insurance in Pennsylvania, so insurance companies don’t always need to investigate who is at fault for an accident. However, no-fault insurance will still pay for damage done to a vehicle and for medical costs that exceed the victim’s coverage. So, when responsibility is shared in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, investigations will likely be done by both parties’ insurance companies. Each insurance company will send an insurance adjuster, who investigates the accident on behalf of the insurance company. Their investigation will include speaking to you and the other driver, talking to witnesses, and reviewing the accident report.
Pennsylvania Courts: Finally, the Pennsylvania Court System will ultimately judge who was at fault for the car accident in Wilkes-Barre. If the other driver files a suit against you for damages from the accident, call Munley Law today for legal representation. Your car accident lawyer will use the police report, security footage, pictures, and videos of the accident, and witness testimonies to prove that the other driver bears some liability.
Why Should You File a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Claim as Soon as Possible?
You do not have an indefinite amount of time to file a car accident claim in Wilkes-Barre, so it’s best to do it as soon as possible. Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations on these cases, as defined by 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2), is two years from the date of the accident.
If you wait too long to file, evidence could fade or disappear, witnesses could forget or become confused about what they saw, or you might miss the deadline completely, which means you won’t be able to claim compensation. Contacting our Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer as soon as you can gives them time to conduct a thorough investigation and to ensure all deadlines are met.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Wilkes-Barre
How Does Full-Tort Insurance Impact Auto Accidents in Wilkes-Barre?
Full or limited tort insurance impacts your ability to pursue legal action after auto accidents occur. You can claim economic and non-economic damages if you have full tort coverage. You cannot sue for pain and suffering if you have limited tort insurance. Some exceptions to limited tort allow you to sue for non-economic damages, such as death, disfigurement, or impairment of bodily function.
If you are unsure about your legal options, an experienced Wilkes-Barre car injury attorney from Munley Law can help.
What Can I Do to Protect My Rights Following a Car Crash in Luzerne County?
You must have proof that your injuries were caused by the car accident. The best way to protect your rights in a car accident is to:
- Gather as much evidence as you can at the scene. Get contact information and take photos of the vehicle damage, the road conditions, signage, and even your injuries.
- After a crash, make sure you get checked by a doctor right away. And don’t skip those follow-up appointments. Missing medical visits can hurt your case – insurance companies might think you’re not really injured if you stop going.
- Be careful what you say to the other driver, the police, and the insurance adjusters. Don’t apologize or offer an opinion on what happened.
- Don’t talk about the accident on social media — your posts can be used against you.
- Keep detailed records of all your accident-related expenses.
How Much Will it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Wilkes-Barre?
It costs nothing to hire a car accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre. At Munley Law, cost should never be in the way of justice. So, we only collect a fee for our services if we win your case. That fee, a portion of the settlement or verdict, will never amount to more than the sum paid to you for your accident injuries.
If your car accident case requires expert testimony or costs associated with preparing your case, our personal injury lawyers in Wilkes-Barre will pay all of these costs for you. You will not have to pay these costs unless we win your car crash case.
What Happens if You Are a Passenger in a Car Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
If a passenger is injured in a car accident, you will first turn to your car insurance policy to pay off the medical expenses. But if you or someone you live with doesn’t own car insurance, then your costs should be covered by the driver’s insurance policy.
If you get into an accident as a passenger in Luzerne County, it may be best to speak with a car accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to learn your options. In Pennsylvania, there is a two-year limit on filing a claim, so don’t wait.
Contact Our Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre and are unsure what to do next, we’re here to help. For the past 65 years, our Wilkes-Barre car accident attorneys have been helping injury victims throughout our area get the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
We do not get paid unless we win. Munley Law will fight tirelessly to win your accident case. Contact our Wilkes-Barre car accident attorneys today for a free case evaluation to secure winning legal representation and recover compensation.
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 May 7, 2026.
