If you’re involved in an accident, follow the advice of our Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyers to ensure you protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of pursuing justice from the moment it happens. Since 1959, our highly acclaimed lawyers have helped victims seek fair compensation for their injuries and other damages. We have secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, including a $7.5 million verdict for a child injured in an accident, a $4.4 million settlement in a car accident case, and a $1.9 million settlement for a family injured by a 16-year-old driver.
We understand that the scene of a car accident can be very stressful. From the damage to your vehicle or, worse, injury to you or a passenger, knowing how to handle a car accident scene before you’re involved in a car crash can be crucial in assuring your and anyone else’s safety.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you should not suffer alone. Car accidents can cause severe damage, and an experienced car accident attorney can help in your recovery. Contact a Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer at Munley Law today for a free consultation.
What Should You Do During the First 10–15 Minutes After a Car Accident?
The moments immediately following a collision can be confusing and stressful. Your priority should be protecting yourself and everyone else at the scene while preserving important evidence before vehicles are moved or conditions change. 
Move to a Safe Location if Possible
If the vehicles can be driven safely and the collision is minor, Pennsylvania law generally encourages drivers to move out of active traffic to reduce the risk of additional crashes. Turn on your hazard lights and move to the shoulder or another safe location whenever possible. If anyone is seriously injured or the vehicles cannot be moved safely, leave everything where it is until emergency responders arrive.
Call 911
Tell the dispatcher:
- Your exact location
- Whether anyone appears injured
- The number of vehicles involved
- Any hazards, such as leaking fuel or blocked traffic lanes
Remain on the line until the dispatcher tells you it is safe to disconnect.
Photograph the Scene Before Anything Changes
If you can do so safely, take photographs before vehicles are moved. Useful photographs include:
- The position of every vehicle
- Damage to all vehicles
- License plates
- Roadway debris
- Skid marks
- Traffic signals or stop signs
- Weather and road conditions
- Visible injuries
These photographs often become valuable evidence if there is later disagreement about how the collision occurred.
Avoid Discussing Fault
Limit conversations with the other driver to exchanging the information required by law. Avoid apologizing or speculating about what happened, as statements made immediately after a crash can later be taken out of context.
Wait for Police Instructions
Remain at the scene until officers tell you that you may leave. Cooperate with the investigation, answer questions honestly, and request information about obtaining the police report once it is completed. Under 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3746, drivers must report accidents immediately if they caused injury, death, or property damage that prevents cars from being driven safely.
How Can a Lawyer Help Preserve Evidence After an Accident?
Evidence from the accident scene often disappears quickly. Vehicle damage is repaired, surveillance footage may be overwritten, and witnesses become harder to locate.
An attorney can help preserve important evidence by:
- Obtaining crash reports
- Requesting nearby surveillance footage
- Identifying witnesses
- Working with accident reconstruction experts when appropriate
- Preserving electronic evidence from commercial vehicles when applicable
Taking these steps early can strengthen your claim if liability is later disputed.
Why Choose Munley Law as Your Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer?
The decisions you make in the hours and days after a collision can affect both your recovery and any future injury claim. At Munley Law, our attorneys help clients preserve important evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and investigate crashes thoroughly from the outset. If liability is disputed, we work to build a strong case using police reports, witness statements, medical records, and other available evidence.
Pennsylvania generally gives injured people two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2). However, this deadline does not apply the same way in every case. For example, if the injured person is a minor, Pennsylvania’s tolling rules generally pause the statute of limitations until they reach age 18, meaning the two-year filing period typically begins on their eighteenth birthday, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5533(b). Because exceptions may apply depending on the circumstances, it is important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible rather than waiting until a deadline is approaching.
For nearly 70 years, Munley Law has represented injured people throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our attorneys guide clients through the legal process, handle communications with insurers, and prepare every case as though it may proceed to trial if a fair resolution cannot be reached.
The National Trial Lawyers has named all of our partners to its Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania list, while J. Christopher Munley has been recognized among the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers. Marion Munley has been recognized by Lawdragon as among the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. All of our attorneys have also been recognized by Best Lawyers. In addition, Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey are board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Frequently Asked Questions about What Should be Done at the Scene of a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident
What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Immediately after a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, PA, call 911 so medical responders can examine you and police can assess the scene and compile a report, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, and document the scene by taking photos of the vehicles, injuries, skid marks, and surrounding conditions. Next, speak to witnesses and ask them for their contact details. Finally, speak to a car accident lawyer before speaking to insurance adjusters to ensure your rights are protected.
Why Should I File a Police Report After a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident?
You should file a police report after a Wilkes-Barre car accident, as these reports are critical pieces of evidence in auto accident claims. Police collect essential information, interview drivers and witnesses, and document the circumstances of the crash. This report becomes a key tool for establishing negligence and supporting your claim with insurance companies or in court.
How Can a Munley Law Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer Help After an Accident?
A Munley Law Wilkes-Barre lawyer can help after an accident by gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, consulting experts, reviewing police and medical records, and building a strong case proving the other party’s negligence. They will handle all communication with the insurance companies, ensuring you don’t say anything that could jeopardize your claim. Our lawyers’ goal is to secure compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- Pain and suffering
- Other damages
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
You have two years to file a car accident claim in Wilkes-Barre, PA, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2). If you try to file a claim later than the period allowed by Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, you will not be able to claim compensation for your damages.
When Should I Contact a Wilkes-Barre Car Accident Lawyer After a Collision?
You should contact a Wilkes-Barre car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision, ideally within hours or days, not weeks. Early legal guidance helps protect your rights, preserve important evidence, and prevent costly mistakes when speaking with insurers or other parties. A lawyer can begin investigating your claim immediately, advising you about medical treatment documentation and building a strong case for compensation.
Call a Munley Law Car Accident Lawyer if You’ve Been Affected by a Crash
Unfortunately, auto accidents are not rare occurrences on our roads. Whether the incident resulted in minor or severe injuries, or fatalities, it’s essential to know what to do at a car accident scene. Dealing with police, insurance companies, witnesses, passengers, other drivers, and more can be overwhelming. After thoroughly recounting the accident scene, your first call should be to an experienced car accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
At Munley Law, our car accident lawyers have been helping victims in Northeastern Pennsylvania for almost seven decades. We work to recover the full compensation available under Pennsylvania law based on the facts of your case. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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 August 3, 2026.
