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

Now that you understand the basics of how to interact with your and the other party’s insurance companies, including what tricks to watch out for, you have all the knowledge you need to begin the claims process. It starts with opening your medical claim through your own insurance company.

What No-Fault Laws Mean for Your Medical Coverage

Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey have no-fault automobile accident laws.

Insurance adjusters may approach you as friends, but when it comes to getting your claim paid, the insurance company is your adversary. It may not be a personal feud – you want the most money for your claim, and they want to pay you the least amount of money to protect their employer’s bottom line – but the situation does put you on opposite ends of the

If you’re dreading the flood of phone calls and letters from insurance companies after your accident, you’re not alone. Dealing with insurance companies, even at this early stage, can be frustrating. If more than one company is involved – your own and another driver’s, or multiple companies representing multiple at-fault parties – you may not know who to contact first, or what information you are required to

Trying to manage the aftermath of an accident can feel like a balancing act. On one hand, you want to decrease the effects on your life as much as possible. Yet it’s often hard for accident victims to do that. You may find yourself weighing considerations like whether you can afford the car repairs or medical care you need and how quickly you must agree to a