Perhaps the only action more selfless than volunteering one’s time to the potentially dangerous pursuit of fighting fires is devoting even more time to commanding an entire company of firefighters. Yet that’s exactly what Mike O’Brien does as Assistant Chief. In the field, he risks his own safety to help others. In the station, he puts in additional time and uses his leadership skills to help accomplish

In no other industry, besides insurance, is conflict of interest considered to be a good thing. Instead of being considered a problem, it’s a business model. The intent of insurance is to provide coverage for risks and, should those risks occur, pay resulting claims fairly and in a timely manner. The ways by which insurance corporations earn revenue actually reward companies for breaking the promises they make

The City of Philadelphia is many things: busy, exciting, cultural, and of course dangerous. Enforcing the law in such a massive, densely populated city with so many varied neighborhoods takes nothing less than the selfless dedication of the city’s finest. Among them is Joseph Handline, a young man who has emerged as a community leader both within and outside the police force.

Handline has served with the

When it comes to serving his community, there’s not much that Joseph Hauck doesn’t do. The firefighter and EMT also works in a hospital emergency room, volunteers time to educate children on fire safety, and is continuing his own education so he can save even more lives. His service and enthusiasm inspire entire communities and landed him a well-deserved finalist spot in the Real Heroes Wear Badges,

Real heroes work hard, as Eladio “Andy” Martinez, contest finalist and runner-up, illustrates. The Philadelphia firefighter goes above and beyond the call of duty, working full schedules and massive amounts of overtime to serve his community and provide for his family. It’s not just his epic work ethic that is inspiring, but the difference he makes in the lives of everyone in his community.

In his six

It seems like hardly anyone expected the freezing rain that struck Philadelphia and areas across New Jersey on January 10, 2014. Sheets of ice covered car windshields, turned the roads into an accident-ridden mess of slush and stop-and-go traffic, and made sidewalks and outdoor steps so slippery that many encountered serious danger with just one foot out the door.

Commuters were stranded during rush hour, but at

Judging by the commercials, you’d think auto insurance companies employ the friendliest people in the world. Of course you want to trust those good hands you’re in, that adorable talking gecko, or the ultra-extrovert saleslady who says you can choose how much you want to pay. What a coincidence that all of these caring, wonderful companies want to take care of you!

At least, that’s what they

Throughout the process of handling your own personal injury claim, you’re likely to need a little help. You may run into words and phrases used in the legal system and the insurance industry that you don’t totally understand. You’ll likely come up against complicated concepts, like how Personal Injury Insurance (PIP) works. When you sit down to write a demand letter, you may realize that you don’t

Not all claims can be settled successfully without an attorney, especially for the amount of compensation you deserve. Every accident is unique in terms of the damages it causes, the liability that led to it, the value as determined by policy limits and geographical market, and the willingness of an insurance company or adjuster to settle for a reasonable amount of compensation. Unfortunately, this means there is

It may have taken some time and some dedication, but you did it. You stood up to an insurance adjuster and skillfully negotiated a settlement. Now you can finally put this whole unpleasant experience behind you and move on with your life, right?

Well… almost.

The good news is that, yes, most of your work is done. However, as you wrap up your personal injury claim, don’t

You’ve taken the time to craft a thorough, well-organized, well-documented demand letter. You used every possible resource to make your claim as strong as it can be. So what happens when the insurance adjuster receives your letter, reads through it, and calls you to begin negotiating a settlement?

Negotiating a personal injury settlement isn’t quite the same as haggling at a yard sale or bargaining with a

One of the hardest parts of handling your personal injury case on your own is accurately calculating the value of your claim. For one thing, there are so many factors that contribute to case value, many of them subjective. Even if you take into consideration every possible detail, determining how these factors should influence value is not as simple as plugging numbers into an equation.

Then there’s

Your success in recovering a fair settlement for your personal injury claim hinges on a concept called liability. Liability, in terms of personal injury, is the legal responsibility of a person or organization as it pertains to the obligation to act with the safety of others in mind. In the case of an accident, whether it’s a car crash or a safety hazard on a property, the

Contacting your own insurance company is the first step toward setting up your medical claim, and potentially a property damage claim. However, to make a claim for damages such as pain and suffering, you have to go through the at-fault party’s insurance company. Whether your accident involved a motor vehicle or a hazardous commercial or private property, the process is the same. You should formally notify, in