Car Accident Lawyer in Wilkes-Barre, PA

A crash on the Cross Valley, Wilkes-Barre Boulevard or Mundy Street can leave you dealing with injuries, medical bills and phone calls from adjusters all at once. Joyce, Carmody & Moran is a Luzerne County law firm based just up the river in Pittston, and we help people hurt in car accidents throughout Wilkes-Barre understand their options and pursue fair compensation.

Where crashes happen in and around Wilkes-Barre

Many of the collisions we hear about happen on roads local drivers use every day:

• Route 309 and the North Cross Valley Expressway

• I-81 through the Wilkes-Barre area exits

• Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, Market Street and the Market Street Bridge

• Mundy Street and the shopping areas around the arena in Wilkes-Barre Township

• River Street, North Main Street and the streets around Public Square

Busy intersections, merging traffic and winter weather all play a part. For crashes on the interstate, see our guide to I-81 accidents in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

How car accident claims work in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a "choice no-fault" state, so a few rules work differently here:

• Your own policy pays medical bills first. Your auto insurance's first-party medical benefits usually pay first, no matter who caused the crash. See who pays medical bills after a car accident.

• Your tort option matters. Whether you chose limited tort or full tort can affect whether you can recover for pain and suffering. See limited tort vs. full tort.

• Fault can be shared. Under Pennsylvania's comparative negligence rule, you can still recover if you were partly at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. Your recovery is reduced by your share. See what happens if it was partly my fault.

• There's a deadline. Most Pennsylvania injury claims must be filed within two years. See the statute of limitations guide.

Car accidents we help with

• Rear-end collisions and highway crashes

• Drunk driver and distracted or texting driver accidents

• T-bone and intersection crashes

• Hit-and-runs and uninsured or underinsured drivers

• Accidents involving delivery vans, rideshare drivers and commercial vehicles

• Passenger injuries

What a claim can include

• Medical bills not covered by your auto medical benefits or health insurance

• Lost wages and lost earning capacity

• Pain and suffering (depending on your tort option and injuries)

• Future medical care

• Property damage to your vehicle

What to do after a crash in Wilkes-Barre

1. Get medical care, even if you feel fine. Some injuries show up days later.

2. Get the police report from the department that responded: Wilkes-Barre City Police, a township department or the Pennsylvania State Police. See how to get a crash report.

3. Take photos and keep every bill, receipt and letter.

4. Be careful with the other driver's insurance company. Read talking to an insurance adjuster before giving a recorded statement.

5. Keep our after-accident checklist handy.

What it costs to talk to us

Car accident cases are typically handled on a contingent-fee basis: the attorney's fee comes from a recovery, and if there is no recovery there is no attorney's fee. Clients may still be responsible for certain case costs depending on the outcome and the written fee agreement, which we explain before you sign. See how much a personal injury lawyer costs.

Local, and close by

Our office at 9 N Main Street in Pittston is about 15 minutes from downtown Wilkes-Barre, and the Luzerne County Courthouse is on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. We also help people in Kingston, Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre Township, Hanover Township and across the Wyoming Valley. See our Wilkes-Barre personal injury page and all areas we serve.

Talk it through with someone local. If you were hurt in a car accident in Wilkes-Barre, call 570-602-3560 or request a free consultation. We'll review what happened and explain your options, with no cost for the first conversation and no obligation.