Drunk Driving Accidents in Scranton

Put More Than 30 Years of Experience Behind Your Injury Claim

When an impaired driver causes a collision, the consequences for everyone else on the road can be severe. At Rogan Law, we represent people injured in crashes caused by alcohol- or drug-impaired drivers throughout the Scranton area. Attorney Patrick Rogan has more than 30 years of legal experience, and our firm is available 24/7 to discuss what happened and whether a civil claim makes sense for your situation.

One distinction matters from the start: a criminal DUI case is brought by the government against the driver for alleged criminal conduct. Your personal injury claim is a separate civil proceeding, one you bring to seek compensation for your own losses. The two cases proceed on different timelines, and the outcome of the criminal matter doesn’t determine the outcome of your civil claim.

If you’ve been injured, contact a drunk driving accident attorney in Scranton or call us at (570) 906-8532 for a free consultation.

How These Claims Are Investigated & Evaluated

Impaired-driving injury claims involve more moving parts than many people expect.

Building a serious injury claim typically means gathering and preserving evidence before it disappears:

• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Photographs of the scene and vehicles
• Medical records documenting your treatment
• Documentation of any income you’ve lost

Toxicology or blood alcohol testing evidence, when it exists, may also be relevant to the civil case.

Insurance companies don’t automatically concede liability or accept your account of your injuries. Even when impairment is suspected or established, insurers may dispute fault, challenge the severity of your injuries, question causation, or argue over the value of your claim. Our attorneys can manage those communications from the outset and respond to disputes about fault, causation, and damages.

Recoverable damages in an impaired-driving injury case may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

In cases involving particularly aggravated conduct, Pennsylvania law may allow a jury to consider punitive damages, though whether those are available depends on the specific facts of each case. We don’t promise a particular outcome, but we work to account for every documented loss.

Pennsylvania Filing Deadlines Affect Your Scranton Injury Claim

Pennsylvania generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the date of the accident under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. That deadline applies regardless of where the criminal case stands. Waiting for a DUI conviction or plea before addressing your civil claim can put you at risk of losing the right to file altogether.

Certain circumstances can affect the deadline, including claims involving minors, government entities, or other procedural factors. If a crash caused a fatality, Pennsylvania’s Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act may support separate claims on behalf of the family and the estate. Because the details of your situation determine which rules apply, prompt legal advice is more reliable than general timelines.

Don’t Assume the Criminal Case Controls Your Civil Timeline

Civil and criminal proceedings move independently. An acquittal doesn’t bar a civil claim, and a conviction doesn’t make civil recovery automatic. In most cases, the two-year window begins to run from the accident date. Consulting a drunk driving accident lawyer in Scranton shortly after the crash gives you time to evaluate the evidence, understand your options, and act before that window closes.

What an Attorney Can Do for Your Claim

Settlement isn’t guaranteed. Decisions about negotiation versus litigation depend on the liability evidence, the extent of documented damages, available insurance coverage, and your own objectives. Our goal is to pursue the outcome that best serves your interests, and we can give you a candid assessment of where things stand at every stage.

Start with a Free Consultation

If you or someone close to you was seriously injured or killed in a crash involving an impaired driver in the Scranton area, the time to act is now. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and civil deadlines don’t wait for the criminal case to conclude. We offer free initial consultations and are available around the clock to take your call. Attorney Patrick Rogan brings more than 30 years of experience to every case and a client-centered approach focused on your individual needs.

Contact Rogan Law today to discuss your claim. Call us at (570) 906-8532 to schedule your free consultation.