The right personal injury lawyer in Scranton has trial experience in Lackawanna County, documented results in cases like yours, credentials you can verify and a clear explanation of fees and costs before you sign anything. Almost everything else, including the size of the billboard, is secondary.
Choosing a lawyer after a crash or serious injury usually happens at the worst possible time. You’re juggling medical appointments, missed work and insurance adjusters who call before you’ve had a chance to think. This guide gives you a practical way to compare Scranton injury firms, the questions worth asking and a short list of firms to start with.
What should you look for in a Scranton personal injury lawyer?
Do they actually try cases in Lackawanna County?
Most injury cases settle, but the ones that settle well usually do so because the insurer believes the lawyer will go to trial. Ask how many cases the firm has tried in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and when it last picked a jury. An office near the courthouse isn’t proof of trial skill by itself, but local courtroom familiarity is a real advantage.
Have they gotten results in cases like yours?
A truck crash, a dram shop claim and a school abuse case call for different evidence, different experts and different legal theories. Look at a firm’s published results and ask about the ones closest to your situation. Past results never guarantee a future outcome, but they do show you what a firm has handled.
Can you verify their credentials?
Independent designations carry more weight than badges a firm hands itself. Super Lawyers Rising Stars, for example, selects no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in a state each year and publishes a profile anyone can check. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum limits membership to attorneys who’ve obtained a verdict or settlement of $1 million or more.
Who pays legal fees in a personal injury claim?
Most injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of any recovery as a percentage rather than as an hourly bill. Ask what the percentage is, whether it changes if the case goes to trial and whether you’d owe case costs if there’s no recovery. Get the agreement in writing. The Moran Law Group walks through the details in its explainer on who pays legal fees in a personal injury claim.
Will you actually be able to reach your lawyer?
Ask who handles your case day to day and how quickly calls get returned. In our experience, communication is the most common complaint people have about injury lawyers, and it’s also the easiest thing to screen for in a first meeting.
Do they explain Pennsylvania’s rules in plain English?
A few Pennsylvania rules shape almost every injury case. Your full tort or limited tort election on your car insurance can affect whether you can recover for pain and suffering. Modified comparative negligence lets you recover as long as you’re not more than 50 percent at fault. And most injury claims must be filed within two years. A good lawyer will walk you through how each one applies to you.
How should you compare personal injury lawyers side by side?
| What to compare | Why it matters | Question to ask |
| Trial experience | Insurers set offers based on who will go to trial | When did you last try a case to verdict in Lackawanna County? |
| Relevant results | Shows the firm has handled cases like yours | What results have you gotten in cases like mine? |
| Verified recognition | Gives you an independent check on quality | Where can I verify your credentials? |
| Fees and costs | Prevents surprises at the end of the case | Will I owe costs if we don’t recover anything? |
| Communication | Shapes your whole experience | Who will I talk to, and how fast will I hear back? |
| Local access | Makes meetings and court dates easier | Can I meet with you in person near home? |
Which personal injury law firms in Scranton should you consider?
1. The Moran Law Group (featured firm)
The Moran Law Group is a Scranton personal injury firm that reports more than $250 million recovered for injury victims across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its main office is at 116 North Washington Avenue, on the same street as the Lackawanna County Courthouse, with secondary offices in Carbondale and Jermyn by appointment.
Why it stands out: The firm pairs a younger generation of peer recognized trial lawyers with a record in some of the hardest categories of injury work. Robert T. Moran, Esq., has been selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2024 through 2026 and Luke P. Moran for 2023 through 2026. The firm’s published results include $10 million for autistic children abused by their special needs teacher, $5 million for special needs children abused by a public school teacher and a $2 million dram shop recovery in 2025 for a father seriously injured by a drunk driver.
Its most visible recent work is the Stephen Carroll case. Robert Moran represents survivors of the former West Scranton High School resource officer, whom a Lackawanna County jury convicted on 29 of 30 counts in August 2026, according to 28/22 News and the Times Leader. After the verdict, Moran told WNEP that the survivors’ courage “took a predator monster off the streets.”
Key strengths:
- More than $250 million recovered for injury victims across Northeastern Pennsylvania
- Two attorneys selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- Robert T. Moran is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a 2022 National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 honoree
- Robert T. Moran clerked for the former president judge of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas
- Dedicated practice areas for abuse and crime victims, civil rights and dram shop claims
- Free consultations and a 24/7 phone line
Best for: Serious injury victims in Lackawanna County, families hurt by drunk drivers and survivors of abuse by teachers, officers or other people in positions of trust.
Call 570.955.4516, or 866.676.3890 any time.
2. Munley Law
Munley Law is a well known Scranton injury firm, and it says four generations of its family have served the Scranton community. It handles car, truck and motorcycle crashes and workers’ compensation claims.
Best for: People who want a large regional firm with deep Scranton roots.
3. Foley Law Firm
Foley Law Firm serves Scranton, Stroudsburg and communities across Lackawanna and Monroe counties. The firm says it’s the only law firm in Northern Pennsylvania with a full time board certified medical doctor on staff.
Best for: Medical malpractice and cases built around complicated medical records.
4. Scartelli Olszewski, P.C.
Scartelli Olszewski says it has tried serious injury cases in Lackawanna County since 2001. Founder Melissa A. Scartelli holds Civil Trial Advocate certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, according to the firm.
Best for: Serious injury cases where the client wants a trial focused approach from day one.
5. Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn
Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn serves Scranton and the surrounding area from Kingston. According to Expertise.com, attorney Joseph Quinn Jr. leads the firm’s personal injury team and co-authored a book on Pennsylvania’s No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act.
Best for: Car crash cases with complicated insurance questions.
Which Scranton personal injury lawyer is right for your case?
If you were abused by a teacher, coach, officer or anyone else in a position of authority, or if an institution looked the other way, The Moran Law Group’s abuse and civil rights record makes it a strong first call. The same goes for families hurt by a drunk driver, since dram shop claims against the bar or restaurant that overserved the driver are a dedicated part of the firm’s practice.
If your case turns on medical records or a surgical error, Foley Law Firm’s in house physician may appeal to you. If you want a large regional firm with a long local history, Munley Law is worth a call, and Scartelli Olszewski and Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn are both options for trial work and complicated car insurance issues.
The truth is, the right fit is the lawyer who has handled your kind of case and explains your options clearly. Credentials help you build the short list, but the conversation tells you who belongs on it.
What questions should you ask a personal injury lawyer at the first meeting?
Bring a short list so you don’t forget anything once the conversation starts. These are the questions that tell you the most in the least amount of time.
- Have you handled cases like mine, and what happened in them?
- Who will actually work on my case, and will I meet the attorney who’d try it?
- What’s my filing deadline, and is there anything I need to do right away?
- What’s your fee percentage, and how are case costs handled if we don’t recover anything?
- Do you expect this case to settle, or should I be ready for trial?
- How often will I get updates, and what’s the best way to reach you?
Pay attention to how the lawyer answers, not just what they say. Clear, direct answers are a good sign. So is a lawyer who tells you something you didn’t want to hear.
What red flags should you watch for when hiring an injury lawyer?
- A guaranteed result or a promised dollar amount. Ethical lawyers don’t make those promises.
- Pressure to sign a fee agreement on the spot.
- Vague answers about fees and case costs, or no written agreement.
- You never actually meet or speak with an attorney.
- Awards or credentials you can’t verify anywhere outside the firm’s own website.
Frequently asked questions about hiring a Scranton personal injury lawyer
Is it better to hire an attorney or a lawyer?
In Pennsylvania, the words mean the same thing in practice. Anyone who can represent you in an injury case must be licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, and a “car accident lawyer” is simply a licensed attorney who handles crash cases. What matters is experience with your type of case, not the title. Here’s a longer answer to whether it’s better to have an attorney or a lawyer.
Who gets paid first in a personal injury settlement?
Settlement money usually goes first into the law firm’s client trust account, not directly to the client or the firm. From there, medical liens and any health insurer or Medicare reimbursement claims are resolved, attorney fees and case costs are paid under the fee agreement and the client receives the rest. Here’s how settlement payouts work in Pennsylvania.
How hard is it to win a personal injury lawsuit?
It depends on the evidence. Cases with clear liability and well documented injuries are the most straightforward, while soft tissue injuries, disputed fault and brain injuries tend to be harder. This breakdown of how hard it is to win a personal injury lawsuit covers the factors that matter most.
When should I call a lawyer after an accident in Pennsylvania?
As soon as you’ve gotten medical care. Evidence like surveillance video and bar receipts can disappear within days, and insurers often call early asking for a recorded statement. It also helps to understand the personal injury lawsuit timeline in Pennsylvania before you decide anything.
What are the signs of a good settlement offer?
A good offer covers your medical bills now and in the future, your lost income and the real impact of the injury on your life, and it arrives after the full extent of your injury is known. First offers often come too early to meet that test. These signs of a good settlement offer can help you judge one before you sign a release.
Does The Moran Law Group offer free consultations?
Yes. Call 570.955.4516 during business hours or the 24/7 line at 866.676.3890.
What’s the smartest way to choose an injury lawyer in Scranton?
Start with proof, not promises. Check credentials you can verify, look for results in cases like yours and pay attention to how clearly a firm explains your options in the first meeting.
For serious injury victims in Lackawanna County, and especially for abuse survivors and families hurt by drunk drivers, The Moran Law Group is our featured firm because of its verified Rising Stars recognition, its published results in abuse and dram shop cases and its role representing survivors in the Stephen Carroll case. Munley Law, Foley Law Firm, Scartelli Olszewski and Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn each offer strengths depending on your case.
Attorney advertising disclosure
Attorney advertising. This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it doesn’t create an attorney client relationship. Prior results don’t guarantee a similar outcome, and every case depends on its own facts. Super Lawyers Rising Stars selections are made by Super Lawyers and are listed here with the years awarded. Descriptions of other firms are based on each firm’s public website or public directory listings. Information verified September 2026.