Your light turns green, and you begin moving through an intersection near Mulberry Street or Route 6 when another driver suddenly crashes into your vehicle. Later, you learn the other driver wasn’t looking at the intersection when they hit you. They were likely looking at a phone, using GPS, eating, or otherwise distracted behind the wheel.
Distracted driving accidents happen in seconds, but the consequences can last much longer. Victims are often left dealing with painful injuries, medical treatment, missed work, and frustration over how a crash that should have been preventable happened in the first place.
Our Scranton distracted driving accident lawyers can help you understand your rights and what options are available to help you recover financially and physically. At The Slocum Firm, we help injured people throughout Scranton and Lackawanna County pursue compensation after serious crashes caused by distracted drivers.
Call (570) 209-7376 to speak directly with our attorneys. We are available 24/7, and you will never pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Why You Should Choose The Slocum Firm for Your Distracted Driving Accident Claim
Distracted driving cases are often more complex than a typical crash. Drivers rarely admit they were texting or otherwise distracted at the time of the collision, which means evidence must often be gathered quickly before it disappears.
At The Slocum Firm, we understand how to investigate these cases and identify the evidence needed to prove what happened. We focus on building strong injury claims while providing clear communication and guidance throughout the process.
Accident victims throughout Pennsylvania choose our team because we offer:
- Over a 95% recovery rate for injured clients
- Millions of dollars recovered for our clients across Pennsylvania
- More than 50 years of combined legal experience
- Direct access to our attorneys by phone or text
- Availability 24/7 for updates and questions
- No upfront fees or hourly billing
We understand how disruptive a serious crash can be. Our goal is to help you regain stability while protecting your legal rights and pursuing full compensation for your injuries.
What Is Considered Distracted Driving in Pennsylvania?What Is Considered Distracted Driving in Pennsylvania?
Distracted driving involves any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from safely operating a vehicle. Many people immediately think about texting while driving, but distraction can involve much more than cell phone use. Drivers may also become distracted by navigation systems, food, conversations, passengers, adjusting controls, or even fatigue.
Distracted driving is generally divided into three categories:
Visual Distractions
These occur when a driver takes their eyes off the road. Looking at a phone screen, a GPS device, or something happening outside the vehicle are common examples.
Manual Distractions
Manual distractions happen when a driver removes one or both hands from the steering wheel. Examples include eating, reaching for objects, or handling a phone.
Cognitive Distractions
These occur when the driver’s mind is not fully focused on driving. Even hands-free phone conversations can create cognitive distractions that delay reaction times.
Many distracted-driving accidents involve multiple types of distraction at the same time. According to Pennsylvania law, texting while driving is illegal, and drivers can be stopped by police if they are holding a phone while driving.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) provides distracted driving safety information and statewide crash statistics. Sadly, in one recent year, there were 11,262 crashes involving a distracted driver in Pennsylvania, resulting in 65 fatalities and 409 suspected serious injuries.
How Pennsylvania Law Addresses Distracted Driving
Pennsylvania law prohibits drivers from using handheld devices to send, read, or write text-based communications while driving. This law is commonly known as Paul Miller’s Law:
Beginning in 2025, Pennsylvania expanded distracted driving restrictions to prohibit handheld device use more broadly while operating a vehicle. These laws are intended to reduce crashes caused by drivers who focus on their phones rather than the road.
Of course, this problem is not unique to our state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable traffic accidents nationwide.
Even when a distraction does not involve illegal phone use, distracted behavior may still support a negligence claim in a personal injury case. The key is finding evidence that shows how the driver was distracted at the time of the collision. This is where our distracted driving attorneys can help. Share your experience with us during a free consultation to learn more.
Where Do Distracted Driving Accidents Commonly Happen in Scranton?
Distracted driving crashes can happen anywhere, but they are especially common in areas involving traffic congestion, frequent stops, or high-speed travel. In Scranton, accidents are often reported near:
- Interstate 81
- Route 6 and Route 11
- Downtown intersections
- School zones and commercial corridors
- Parking lot entrances and exits
- Busy retail areas near Viewmont Mall and the Marketplace at Steamtown
Drivers who divide their attention for even a few seconds may fail to notice stopped traffic, changing signals, pedestrians, or merging vehicles.
How Do You Prove a Driver Was Distracted?
One of the biggest challenges in distracted driving cases is proving what the driver was doing before the crash. Unlike drunk driving cases, where the driver can be tested after the crash, distraction often leaves less obvious evidence.
To build your legal claim, our legal team can search for evidence to help establish that the other driver was not paying attention at the time of the collision.
Cell Phone Records
Phone activity records may show texting, calls, or app usage around the time of the collision.
Surveillance and Traffic Camera Footage
Video footage from nearby businesses, intersections, or dash cameras may capture the driver’s behavior before impact.
Witness Statements
Passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers may have observed the driver looking at a phone or engaging in distracting behavior.
Crash Reconstruction Evidence
Skid marks, vehicle damage, and impact analysis can sometimes reveal that the driver delayed braking or otherwise inappropriately responded to the situation.
Because electronic evidence can disappear quickly, the sooner we can investigate your accident, the more likely we can find evidence to support a distracted driving claim. Contact us today to start protecting your rights.
Do You Have a Distracted Driving Accident Case?
You may have a valid personal injury claim if another driver’s lack of attention contributed to the crash and caused your injuries. Many crash victims are unsure whether they can prove distraction, especially when the at-fault driver denies wrongdoing. However, distracted driving may be established through a combination of evidence rather than the driver’s admission.
You may have a viable case if:
- The other driver appeared distracted before the crash
- The collision involved delayed braking or failure to react
- Witnesses observed phone use or distraction
- You suffered injuries requiring medical treatment
- The accident caused financial losses or ongoing limitations
Even if you are uncertain about fault, speaking with our attorneys can help you better understand your legal options.
What Compensation Is Available After a Distracted Driving Accident?
Distracted driving accidents often cause more than short-term inconvenience. Many victims face lasting physical, financial, and emotional consequences. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may request compensation for:
Medical Expenses
These damages may include the costs of emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, physical therapy, and future medical care related to the crash. Some injuries, such as spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries, may require ongoing treatment for years after the accident.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may recover lost wages. More serious injuries may also affect your future earning ability if you cannot return to the same type of work.
Pain and Suffering
Pennsylvania law allows injured individuals to pursue compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and disruption to daily life caused by the accident.
Long-Term Impact
Some distracted driving accidents leave victims with chronic pain, permanent disability, or lasting cognitive impairments that affect nearly every part of life moving forward.
Our job is to determine every way the accident has impacted your life, place a reasonable value on your losses, present your claim to the at-fault party’s insurance company, and fight for the maximum amount of compensation possible.
What If the Insurance Company Tries to Blame You?
Insurance companies frequently attempt to reduce payouts by arguing that the injured driver contributed to the accident. In these cases, Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence system. Under these rules, you may still recover compensation as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the crash.
For example, an insurer may claim you were speeding or failed to react quickly enough. Even if you were partially at fault, you may still have a valid claim. However, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. We can explain how the law applies to your situation during our initial consultation.
Can Distracted Driving Lead to Punitive Damages?
In some situations, distracted driving behavior may be considered more than ordinary negligence. For example, repeated phone use, video streaming while driving, or knowingly dangerous conduct may support arguments for punitive damages under Pennsylvania law.
These damages are intended to punish particularly reckless behavior rather than simply compensate the victim. Punitive damages are not available in every case, but highly dangerous distracted driving behavior can significantly affect how a claim is evaluated.
How the Team at The Slocum Firm Can Help After a Distracted Driving Crash
Distracted driving cases often require prompt investigation and careful preservation of evidence. Our attorneys help clients by:
- Investigating the crash and gathering evidence
- Requesting surveillance footage and phone records
- Reviewing police reports and witness statements
- Communicating with insurance companies
- Calculating long-term damages and future losses
- Negotiating for a fair settlement, if possible
- Preparing and presenting cases at trial, if necessary
Throughout the process, you work directly with our attorneys—not a call center or case manager unfamiliar with your situation. We strive to treat our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Driving Accident Cases in Scranton
How long do I have to file a distracted driving accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, the Pennsylvania statute of limitations gives injured individuals only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Preparing a strong claim takes time. Call our team as soon as you are able so we can start protecting your rights.
Can phone records really be used as evidence?
Yes. In many cases, phone activity records can help establish texting, app use, or calls around the time of the crash. We can request this evidence on your behalf through legal channels.
What if the police report does not mention distraction?
You may still have a valid claim. Many distracted driving cases rely on evidence uncovered after the initial investigation.
What if I was injured as a passenger?
Passengers injured in distracted driving crashes may pursue claims against the responsible driver and other potentially liable parties.
What if the driver deleted information from their phone?
Electronic evidence may sometimes still be recoverable through subpoenas, carrier records, or forensic analysis. Early legal action can help preserve important evidence.
Can hands-free phone use still be considered distracted driving?
Yes. Even when hands-free technology is legal, cognitive distraction can still contribute to negligence if the driver was not fully paying attention at the time of the crash.
What injuries are common in distracted driving accidents?
Distracted driving crashes frequently involve high-speed impacts and delayed braking, which can lead to head injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, and soft tissue damage.
Does it matter if the distracted driver was working at the time of the crash?
Yes. If the driver was acting within the scope of employment, their employer may also share liability for the accident.
Contact Our Scranton Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Today
A distracted driving accident can leave you facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your future. You should not have to handle insurance companies and legal stress on your own while you’re trying to heal.
Call The Slocum Firm today to speak directly with our Scranton distracted driving accident lawyers. We are available 24/7, and you will never pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Since 2009, our attorneys have helped injured people throughout Pennsylvania recover millions of dollars while maintaining a 95% recovery rate. When you contact our team, you will speak directly with an attorney who can explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you understand your next steps.
If you were injured in Scranton or anywhere in Pennsylvania, contact The Slocum Firm today at (570) 209-7376 for a free consultation.
