After a car accident in Berwick, PA, your rights and options depend on many factors, including the other driver’s actions and your insurance coverage. A Berwick car accident lawyer from Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, can help you understand your legal options after a collision. Call (570) 714-4878 to schedule a free consultation.
Berwick, Pennsylvania, had only about 10,000 residents as of the 2020 census. Meanwhile, all of Columbia County recorded only a few hundred traffic crashes. While this sample is small, it helps to estimate Berwick car accident statistics.
How Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, Can Help After A Car Accident In Berwick, PA
Our firm has been representing Pennsylvanians like you for over two decades. Our Berwick personal injury attorneys have more than a century of combined experience fighting for the rights of accident victims. We’ve successfully recovered over $150 million in financial compensation for their injury-related losses.
Our Berwick personal injury lawyers provide the following assistance to those injured by the negligent or wrongful acts of other drivers:
- Listen to their stories and advise them about their legal claims
- Gather supporting evidence, including medical records and crash reports
- File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer and negotiate a settlement
- Litigate against drivers when their insurers deny liability
Car accidents in Berwick may be relatively rare, but they can still have life-changing consequences. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your accident and the damages you can pursue with a qualified Berwick car accident attorney.
Car Accidents in Berwick: What the Statistics Reveal
Pennsylvania doesn’t release statistics for individual cities, towns, and boroughs. However, the state’s Crash Facts & Statistics report provides county-level statistics. These figures indicate what happens in the broader Berwick region.
In 2024, Columbia County had 66,012 residents, or approximately 0.5% of the state’s population. That year, the county saw 639 total car accidents. This number represented about 0.6% of the total crashes across Pennsylvania. In other words, the region encompassing Berwick had roughly the number of crashes you would expect based on its population share.
The 639 crashes represented all types of traffic mishaps, including:
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
Unfortunately, the Crash Facts report doesn’t identify how many collisions in Columbia County fell into each category.
Berwick Accident Outcomes
Collisions in Columbia County had the following results:
- Six fatal accidents
- 256 injury accidents
- 377 property damage-only accidents
The state doesn’t break down injury accidents by severity.
However, across Pennsylvania, the percentage of injuries seen in each category was as follows:
- 7% serious injuries that incapacitated the victim, requiring an ambulance
- 55% minor injuries resulting in a visible, non-incapacitating wound
- 17% possible injuries where there was no visible wound but symptoms such as pain
- 21% unknown severity
These injuries are evaluated by the investigating officer at the accident scene.
Remember that the high number of injuries classified as “unknown severity” results from two main factors. First, police officers aren’t trained in medicine and, as a result, can’t always evaluate injuries. Additionally, the officers might not receive a full assessment of the victim’s injuries before the ambulance takes them to the emergency room.
Causes of Crashes Throughout Pennsylvania
The Crash Facts report identifies only a handful of causes for vehicular accidents in Columbia County and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, including the following:
Speed
Excess speed is the foremost contributing factor to Pennsylvania car accidents. Some of these crashes occurred when drivers went over the speed limit. Others happened when drivers traveled at or below the speed limit but too fast for the weather or road conditions.
Drivers may be unable to respond quickly enough to control a speeding vehicle. As such, they may lose control and collide with another vehicle or a fixed object. The speed of the vehicles involved in an accident also determines the crash energy. Speeding drivers often cause and suffer more serious injuries.
Improper Turns
Improper turns occur when a driver turns without waiting for an opening in traffic. For example, a driver might turn left across the path of an approaching vehicle without leaving enough space for the other driver to stop. In 2024, improper turns were the second leading cause of crashes in Pennsylvania.
Distraction
Distracted driving was Pennsylvania’s third-most common cause of car accidents in the year examined. Distractions result from events inside or outside the vehicle that require the driver to take their hands, eyes, or mind off the road. Device use is a frequent cause of distracted driving collisions. Others include eating, using navigation apps, and talking.
Distracted drivers may not notice or have time to react to danger. As a result, they significantly increase their risk of failing to spot a road hazard.
Contact Our Berwick Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Berwick car wrecks can raise complex legal and evidentiary issues. Contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, for a free consultation to learn how our Berwick car accident lawyers can help you pursue the compensation you’re entitled to under Pennsylvania law.