Scranton, Pennsylvania, has over 76,000 residents, making it one of the state’s most populous cities. Unfortunately, Scranton car accident statistics show that the large population leads to road congestion and traffic crashes. These car accidents can result in serious injuries and substantial financial losses.
If you’ve been injured in a Scranton car accident, McDonald & MacGregor, LLC can help you recover compensation. Contact us today at (570) 209-7062 for a free consultation with a Scranton car accident lawyer.
How McDonald & MacGregor, LLC Can Help After a Car Accident in Scranton, PA
At McDonald & MacGregor, LLC, our attorneys in Scranton, PA, have over 90 years of combined legal experience representing accident victims. Since the firm’s founding, we have successfully recovered over $50 million in financial compensation for our injured clients.
When you get injured by a negligent or aggressive driver, we provide the following legal assistance:
- Listen to you explain your accident and the resulting injuries
- Collect records and other evidence to build a case against the at-fault driver
- File an insurance claim and negotiate to resolve it without a lawsuit
- Litigate against the driver if their insurer fails to offer a fair settlement
A car accident in Scranton can leave you with injuries that require expensive treatment and a lengthy recuperation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Scranton personal injury lawyer to discuss your injuries and the compensation you may be entitled to seek under Pennsylvania law.
Trends in Car Accidents in Scranton
Pennsylvania issues an annual Crash Facts & Statistics report. This report does not contain statistics for individual cities. Instead, it reports numbers at the county level. However, since Scranton is Lackawanna County’s largest city, the county’s numbers paint an accurate picture of the road safety in the Scranton metro area.
According to the 2024 release, Lackawanna County had 2,259 total crashes. This number accounts for 2% of the state’s crashes that year. However, Lackawanna County has roughly 1.7% of the state’s population. This means the metro area has more crashes than expected for its population. While 0.3% might not seem like much, it translates to over 330 excess crashes.
The accident total includes all crashes involving at least one motor vehicle, including the following:
- Single-vehicle crashes where a vehicle rolled over, ran off the road, or hit a fixed object
- Multi-vehicle crashes involving two or more motor vehicles
- Pedestrian accidents involving a collision between a motor vehicle and a person
- Bicycle accidents involving an automobile and a human-powered vehicle
Motor vehicles include all powered vehicles. Thus, these statistics cover motorcycle accidents and commercial motor vehicle accidents, including accidents involving heavy trucks and buses.
Even though the Scranton area has more than its share of crashes, it has seen a multi-year decline. The city’s crash numbers have declined every year since 2021, when collisions peaked at 2,459.
The Human Cost of Scranton Car Crashes
Crashes in Lackawanna County in 2024 had the following outcomes:
- 16 fatal crashes
- 1,018 non-fatal injury crashes
- 1,225 property damage-only crashes
The area’s 16 fatal crashes caused 20 deaths, including seven pedestrians. The Crash Facts & Statistics report does not identify how many non-fatal injuries resulted from these collisions. However, car accidents are classified based on the most severe injury at the scene. Thus, these non-fatal injury crashes may have injured multiple people, resulting in thousands of injuries.
Common Causes of Pennsylvania Car Accidents
Most car accidents result from a relatively small number of causes:
Speeding
Speeding was the leading contributing factor to traffic crashes in Pennsylvania. Across the state, crash reports identified 23,427 collisions where speed played a role. Excess speed can cause a driver to lose control of their automobile, particularly in poor weather or lighting conditions. Crash energy also increases with speed, making collisions more severe.
Intoxicated Driving
Intoxicated driving was not a leading cause of traffic accidents. However, it was the second-most common factor in fatal crashes. Intoxicated drivers often have poor judgment and coordination. As a result, they take more risks while driving and cannot maneuver out of the dangerous situations they create.
Distracted Driving
Distracted drivers caused nearly 9,700 collisions in 2024. This preventable driving behavior happens when someone multitasks while driving. As a result, they cannot devote the mental and physical attention required to drive safely. Some common distractions include texting, talking, and eating.
Tailgating
A driver follows too closely when they drive so close to another vehicle that they cannot stop safely. Tailgating can cause rear-end collisions because the driver lacks the space and time to brake when the vehicle in front of them slows down or stops.
Contact Our Scranton Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Scranton car accidents typically result from driving errors and often cause severe injuries. If you’ve been injured in a crash, contact McDonald & MacGregor, LLC for a free consultation with an experienced Scranton car accident attorney. We can review your case and ensure your rights are protected.
