Have you or a family member recently been involved in an accident in Carbondale, PA? Contact the experienced Carbondale personal injury lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for immediate legal assistance. You may be entitled to a substantial monetary award for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Our award-winning legal team can help you fight to maximize your recovery.
Collectively, our attorneys have more than 120 years of experience and have won tens of millions of dollars for accident victims just like you. Let us put the full force and weight of our personal injury law firm behind you and work to get you all of the money you deserve.
We offer a completely free, no-obligation consultation to review your case and offer legal guidance in all personal injury matters such as motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims in Carbondale, construction accidents, bus accidents, Carbondale social security disability, and many more.
We offer a free case evaluation, so please don’t hesitate to call our law office at (717) 995-8810 or connect with us online. Our compassionate team is always standing by to take your call.
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Why You Need Carbondale Personal Injury Lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates in Your Corner After an Accident in Carbondale, PA
You have the power to choose the law firm that represents your interests after an accident. And, your choice of attorney really matters. You deserve to have a lawyer with experience, passion, and a demonstrated ability to win on your side. That’s why the Carbondale personal injury lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates should be your first call after you get hurt.
- Members of our team have been recognized as Super Lawers and Super Lawyer Rising Stars
- We’ve been featured on respected lists in the legal industry, including Best Lawyers in America
- Our law firm has been featured in US News & World Report’s list of “Best Law Firms”
- Our team includes two attorneys who are Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialists by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- We’ve won millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims and their families across the state of Pennsylvania.
Give us a call to discuss your personal injury case and learn how our law firm can help you work toward the best possible result. Your first consultation is free, and there’s no cost unless we win, so contact us today.
Carbondale, PA Accident Statistics
Accidents are quite common in and around Carbondale, Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania DOT, there were 2,359 car accidents in Carbondale and throughout Lackawanna County in 2022. That’s about 6 or 7 traffic crashes a day.
Of those collisions, 21 were fatal, and another 1,046 resulted in at least one serious injury.
Motor vehicle accidents aren’t the only reason people die, get hurt, contract illnesses, or become disabled in Carbondale.
For many, Pennsylvania workplaces can be quite dangerous. Across the state, there were 183 fatal workplace accidents in 2022 – the highest number in nearly ten years. Another 123,400 workers sustained work-related injuries and illnesses in the Keystone State that year.
Eastern Pennsylvania, in particular, is home to a lot of dangerous industries – including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. Many Carbondale workers are involved in serious workplace accidents and are exposed to hazardous conditions and materials every day.
Personal Injury Practice Areas We Handle in Carbondale, PA
Our Carbondale personal injury lawyers handle all types of personal injury cases in Pennsylvania. We have decades of experience in personal injury and insurance law. We can advise you of your rights and options after your PA accident.
Our attorneys frequently represent clients injured in the following incidents:
Car Accidents
Car accidents happen every day in and around Carbondale. Pennsylvania’s complicated insurance rules can leave you confused about how to recover compensation. Our Carbondale car accident lawyer can help you pursue all avenues for compensation, including no-fault insurance, insurance claims against the at-fault driver, and personal injury lawsuits. Contact our attorneys for help understanding your rights.
Truck Accidents
Trucks make their way through Northeastern Pennsylvania every hour. They carry valuable goods and cargo to PA and beyond. However, they also create risks for smaller passenger vehicles, which can often not withstand an impact from a commercial truck in an accident. If you were injured in a truck crash, you could be entitled to compensation from the driver or trucking company. Our Carbondale truck accident lawyer can help you stand up and demand money for your losses.
Motorcycle Accidents
Due to the climate, motorcyclists aren’t as common on Carbondale roads as in other parts of the country. This may be why Pennsylvania drivers often fail to look out for riders when out on the road. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, you could be entitled to a substantial monetary award. Our Carbondale motorcycle accident lawyer can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable for your losses.
Social Security Disability
Social security disability can be an important financial lifeline for workers who have suffered a disability or developed a debilitating illness. However, your application for benefits needs to be thorough in order to avoid a denial from the Social Security Administration. Our Carbondale social security disability lawyer can help you complete your application for benefits and represent you at hearings related to your claim, including appeals.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers injured in a Carbondale workplace are typically entitled to workers’ compensation. These benefits will offer money for medical expenses and partial wage replacement. If you’ve been injured in an on-the-job accident, our Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyer can help you obtain all the benefits you’re entitled to under the law. We can also explore whether you may have a right to file a third-party lawsuit for additional damages.
Employment Discrimination
Employment discrimination can take many forms, including termination and retaliation. It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee on the basis of a protected characteristic (sex, sexual orientation, race, national origin, etc.). If an employer discriminated against you due to a fixed characteristic, you could be entitled to compensation. Our Carbondale employment discrimination lawyer can help you understand your legal options.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
An attorney knows how the insurance companies work and can negotiate the best outcome for you. There are aspects of getting a fair settlement that can be complicated that are likely to be overlooked without an attorney’s help. A Carbondale personal injury lawyer can help you explore the best avenue to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
You Need to Level the Playing Field
If you don’t hire a personal injury lawyer, the compensation for your injuries will likely be determined by insurance companies that are not looking out for your best interests. Their goal is typically to settle the accident case as cheaply as possible. You want someone who is on your side and will push back when the insurance companies try to give you a low offer.
If you leave it up to insurance companies, you probably won’t receive the full amount that you’re entitled to for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Hiring an experienced lawyer can help you navigate the process to make sure you receive all the compensation that you deserve.
You’ll Have Experts On Your Side
Accidents can be complicated, and obtaining full compensation for your injuries often requires hiring experts to evaluate the case.
Experts may include:
- Accident reconstructionists to confirm what happened
- Economists to value your lost earnings, and
- Medical experts to verify your injuries and any long-term limitations caused by the accident.
Proving damages is an important part of your case, and experts can play a key role in making sure all of your injuries are considered in the calculation.
Experts will review your case and prepare a report supporting your case, which can help in the negotiation process. They’ll be available to testify on your behalf at trial if necessary. A personal injury attorney who has experience working with experts familiar with specific types of accidents can help improve your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
Insurance Companies Love to Blame the Victim
The party who caused your injuries will try to put the blame on you so that they don’t have to pay you anything for the damage they caused. If you are partially at fault, your award may be reduced by the proportion of the accident deemed to be your fault. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help keep the facts straight so that you don’t shoulder an unnecessary portion of the burden.
You Deserve Time to Get Better
If you are injured, the last thing you want to do is talk to an insurance company. You should be focused on recovering from your injuries. You don’t need the additional stress of worrying whether your expenses for your injuries, lost work, or damaged property are going to be covered. Hiring an attorney can give you much-needed rest after your injury.
Why Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
If you are injured in any kind of accident, your medical care may be costly. Recovery time could be lengthy. You might miss work for a long time. You may need to hire someone to help you while you recuperate.
You shouldn’t be personally responsible for this financial burden if someone else caused your injuries. Filing a personal injury claim or possibly pursuing legal action may be necessary in order to get the compensation you need to get you back on your feet.
Insurance companies frequently deny claims or offer much less than the claim is worth. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you through the process and make sure that you are getting a fair settlement.
I Was Hurt in an Accident in Carbondale – How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case?
If you sustained injuries in an accident as a result of someone else’s behavior and have suffered damages as a result, you may have a personal injury case.
Personal injury cases include a wide range of incidents such as:
- Car accidents
- Dog bites
- Slip and falls
- Defective product injuries
- Construction site accidents
- Workplace illnesses
- Social security disability cases
You must prove that someone else’s conduct caused you damages in some way. If no real damages resulted from the accident or from someone’s negligent conduct, you will likely not have a case. Call our Carbondale law office today to let our personal injury attorneys determine whether you have a personal injury case.
How Much is My Case Worth?
Awards in personal injury cases vary widely depending on the specific circumstances of the case.
A personal injury attorney can help you get a better understanding of what you might be able to expect depending on:
- What type of injuries you suffered
- Whether your injuries are mild or severe
- How much you paid in medical expenses
- Whether you have long-term injuries
- How your employment has been affected by your injuries
- Whether others are dependent on your income
Cases involving more severe or long-term injuries typically have higher awards. Many factors come into play when determining an award, and consulting with a Carbondale personal injury attorney can help you get a better idea of what your case may be worth.
What If I’m Beig Blamed or Partially At Fault For an Accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has modified comparative fault rules with a 51% bar to recovery. This means that you could still recover damages for your injuries even if you are partially at fault. If you are found to be less than 51% at fault, then you still may receive compensation. But, it will be reduced in proportion to your responsibility.
For example, if you were awarded $100,000, but you were found to be 20% at fault, then you would still receive $80,000 in compensation.
What Compensation Can I Get in a Personal Injury Case?
Compensation is generally classified into two categories: (1) economic (also called special damages); and (2) non-economic (also called general damages).
Economic damages are usually connected to tangible items with a value that can be calculated, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Expenses for in-home care
- Lost wages
- Damage to property
Non-economic damages may be more subjective and involve things that are often referred to as “pain and suffering.”
This may include money for things like:
- Mental and emotional pain and suffering
- Physical pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life activities
- Loss of companionship, if your injury has affected your relationship with your spouse or partner
You may recover a combination of economic and non-economic damages. In rare cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages if the party who caused your injuries did so intentionally or if their behavior was particularly reckless. If your case qualifies, punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages.
Contact our Carbondale law office for a free consultation to discuss your case to learn what kind of damages you could expect to receive.
What’s Negligence and How Do You Prove It in a Personal Injury Case?
Negligence occurs when someone fails to act in a way that a reasonable person would act in a similar circumstance.
To win a negligence claim, you must prove:
- The party who injured you had a duty of care to behave in a way to prevent injury to you
- The party breached that duty of care
- The breach of duty of care caused your injury
- You suffered damages as a result of the breach of duty of care
All of these elements must be present in order to recover damages in a negligence case. Negligence is generally unintentional. Serious injuries can occur even when someone doesn’t intend to cause harm.
Who Can Be Liable After an Accident in Carbondale?
Depending on the type of case, liability can be attributed to more than one party in a case. In a car accident, for example, the other driver may be the only liable party. Accidents involving a tractor-trailer may involve the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, or vendors involved in whatever freight the truck was carrying.
If an accident occurred at a business, there may be several parties potentially liable, including the business itself, the manufacturer of any equipment that caused the injury, operators of any equipment, and the property owner.
Each case is unique, and talking to our attorneys can help to ensure that you don’t miss a key player who could be held responsible for your injuries.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Injury Lawsuits in Pennsylvania?
Typically, accident victims in the state of Pennsylvania will have two years to file a civil lawsuit for damages. The clock begins to run the moment you’re injured. If, two years later, you haven’t filed a claim with your local court, you’ll have lost the right to sue those responsible for your injuries and suffering.
The two-year statute of limitations applies to most, but not all, personal injury cases in Pennsylvania. Claims involving the government and workplace injuries are actually subject to shorter deadlines. There are also times when you could have an extended period to file a lawsuit – like if the victim was a minor at the time of the accident.
Don’t lose out on the money you deserve because of a procedural technicality. Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to get started on your case today.
What Should I Expect in the Personal Injury Claims Process?
Each case is unique and the process will depend on the specific facts of your case. If you were injured in a car accident, for example, the process often begins with filing a claim with the insurance company. If you were injured on the job, the process might begin with making an internal accident report. Depending on your situation, you may not want to file a lawsuit right away.
Whatever the process, there will be an investigation of the incident that includes an assessment of liability and damages. There may be preliminary settlement offers for your injuries. If the offer isn’t sufficient to compensate you for your injuries, then you may need to file a lawsuit. Talking to a personal injury attorney in Carbondale, PA can help you decide the best course of action based on your specific case.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Whether you’ll go to trial depends on the individual circumstances of your case. Most cases settle before trial, but if settlement discussions are unsuccessful, you may well be headed for trial. Even when trial is scheduled, often parties are negotiating up until the last minute, so you will need to be prepared to go to trial even if you are trying to reach a settlement.
What Should I Do If I’m Injured in an Accident in Carbondale?
When you are injured in an accident, you should try to gather information related to your accident.
If you have been in a vehicle accident, call 911 and make a report to the police. If possible, take photos at the scene of the vehicles involved, as well as anything else in the surrounding area that may be important.
Get contact and insurance information from other parties involved in the accident. If there are any witnesses to the accident, get their contact information as well.
Seek medical attention even if you do not think you have any injuries. Sometimes injuries may not be visible, and you want to be sure you don’t miss something that could cause you trouble down the road.
Keep documentation of everything related to the accident, including medical bills or other receipts for medical devices, rehabilitation, or prescriptions.
Consult an experienced personal injury attorney for the best chance of obtaining compensation for your injuries.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
The cost for any attorney, including a personal injury lawyer, will be laid out in the fee agreement between you and your attorney. Our personal injury lawyers collect a percentage of the total compensation award, so you will only pay if you win your case.
The attorney’s fee is generally 33% to 40% of the financial award. But be sure to read your fee agreement with your attorney for details for your specific situation.
Call Our Trusted Carbondale Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
If someone caused you to be injured in an accident in Carbondale, PA, you deserve to be compensated. You shouldn’t have to pay for medical expenses and missed wages due to someone else’s carelessness. You’ll have a better chance of receiving full compensation for your injuries if you hire the experienced Carbondale personal injury attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates Injury Law.
Since 2008, we’ve been fierce advocates for the injured, disabled, and ill in central Pennsylvania. We’re ready to help you stand tall against insurance companies and at-fault parties. Call our Carbondale law office to discover how we can help you today.
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Carbondale, PA Emergency Care Physicians
- Alan Fierverker – 100 Lincoln Ave, Carbondale, PA 184072116
- Dr. Matthew Haley – 263 Carbondale Rd, Waymart, PA 18472
- Commonwealth Health Physicians Network – 150 Brooklyn St, Carbondale, PA 18407
- Primary Care Medicine – 165 Fallbrook St, Carbondale, PA 18407
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Areas We Serve in Lackawanna County
Simpson, Waymart, Childs, Mayfield, Jermyn, Newberry’s Welding L.L.C., Carbondale, and all of Lackawanna County.
We represent clients in all personal injury matters in Carbondale, PA, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Uber accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accident and illness
- Workers’ compensation claims
- Wrongful death, and more.