News & Blog

in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Hit and Run Accidents too Common in NEPA

August 31, 2016

Hit and run accidents, like the deadly crash that killed a man riding his bicycle on a Scranton sidewalk on Sunday morning, are happening all too frequently in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. Just today, a motorcyclist was killed in a hit and run accident in Philadelphia. The impact so strong when the motorcycle was hit by an SUV, that the victim’s body was thrown about 30 feet. Hit and run accidents can be deadly, especially when involving a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist. They are tragic for the victims of these crashes, and also for their families. 2015 Traffic Crash Facts The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report this week stating that traffic accident fatalities were up sharply in 2015. 2,348 more people died in traffic accidents in 2015 than in 2014. A total of 35,092 people were killed in crashes. This a 7% increase over the previous […]

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New PA Law Requires Rear Facing Child Safety Seats

August 11, 2016

Starting this week, Pennsylvania motorists must be aware of a new PA child safety seat law. Drivers must be sure that rear facing car seats are used for all children under the age of two. The measure officially becomes a new PA law on Friday, August 12. Parents are cautioned to follow the manufacturers height and weight requirements on their seats. Sometimes children will still be within the ranges, even if they are 2 or older. Rear facing seats are said to lower the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% in infants and by 54% for toddlers. On average, three children were killed and 470 children injured every day in traffic crashes in 2013. Pennsylvania is the fourth state to enact a rear-facing child safety […]

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Reducing truck underride crashes priority with accident attorney

July 22, 2016

73% of all fatalities in a truck accident in 2014 were the occupants of other vehicles, according to the NHTSA. The immense size and weight of large trucks can result in devastation for a passenger vehicle and its occupants when it comes to a collision. This is especially true in the event of truck underride crashes. Few truck accidents are more destructive than those that involve a passenger car getting lodged underneath a large semi-truck. The bed of a trailer is often higher than the hood of a standard car. In an underride or undercarriage crash, a car goes partially or completely under a truck or trailer. This dramatically increases the chance of severe injury or death. A car can go under the rear of a truck or may also get lodged under the side of a truck or tractor-trailer. This is referred to as a side underride crash. Large trucks […]

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Deadly Wrong Way Crashes Near Wilkes-Barre Spur Safety Improvements

July 14, 2016

Six wrong way crashes near Wilkes-Barre in Northeast Pennsylvania in a little over a year has gotten the attention of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot). Twelve vehicle accident fatalities occurred in four of those crashes on Pennsylvania highways. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Safety Administration, wrong way driving crashes result in 300 to 400 people killed each year in the United States on average. Because wrong way crashes often involve head-on high speed crashes, they tend to be more severe, causing serious injuries and fatalities. This week, PennDot began a $778,000 Safety and Wrong Way Crash Improvement Project in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. The road safety improvements are expected to be completed by September 2016. The project will include adding additional signage, warning drivers of Wrong Way and Do Not Enter on off-ramps. It will also include upgrading reflectivity of current signs. According to PennDot, the work […]

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Car Crashes Leading Cause of Teen Deaths

June 27, 2016

Each year as school ends for the summer, we hear tragic stories of teen lives cut short by car crashes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens according to the CDC. In fact, they were the leading cause of death for every age 16 through 24 in 2014. Two startling facts from the NHTSA Teen Crash Statistics 2014 are: 1,727 drivers ages 15 to 20 died in motor vehicle crashes and 170,000 young drivers were injured in motor vehicle crashes. 100 Deadliest Days for Car Crashes Teen Drivers According to a study by the AAA Foundation, over the past five years, more than 5,000 people have died in car crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 day summer driving period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is a period of time when more teens are on the road. The study found that distracted driving […]

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Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen 2016 PA Super Lawyers

June 20, 2016

Personal Injury Attorneys Daniel J. Distasio and Michael J. Kowalski have been named 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. They are partners in the law firm of Distasio & Kowalski, LLC, which is located in Wilkes-Barre. The personal injury firm specializes in Auto and Truck Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death cases.             Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor bestowed by Super Lawyers magazine. This is the eighth consecutive year that Daniel Distasio and Michael Kowalski were named Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers undertakes a rigorous multi-phased selection process. The process includes a statewide survey of layers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer […]

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Main Practice Areas

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Auto & Truck Accidents

Our attorneys are here to guide you through the process of fighting for justice after a serious car or truck accident. 

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Medical Malpractice & Medical Misdiagnosis

Distasio & Kowalski has an exceptional record of success in fighting negligent doctors and hospitals in Pennsylvania.

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Birth Injury

We understand your suffering and are here to legal representation if your baby is the victim of a tragic birth injury. 

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Personal Injury

If you were seriously injured in any type of accident, they DKY personal injury attorneys will fight aggressively for you.

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Wrongful Death

We are injury attorneys dedicated to fighting for the rights and recoveries of families who have lost loved ones.

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Wills, Estates, & Trusts

Our experienced attorneys will hep you create a strategy to ensure that your assets move easily to the next generation.

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Workers' Compensation / SSD

If you have been injured at work or are seeking SSDI or SSI benefits and have been denied, our attorneys are here for you.

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General Practice

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