When you need legal representation, you need The Igwe Firm!

Whether you’ve been in a car accident, a case involving medical malpractice or you’ve suffered from an injury, you need a lawyer that you can trust to represent you. Each and every one of those situations is stressful, and the last thing that you need to worry about in the middle of an emergency situation is the reliability of your lawyer. That is why, when you need legal representation, you need the experienced personal injury lawyer at The Igwe Law Firm.

Why choose us?

The legal world is a complicated place, and regardless of which side of the law you are on, you need adequate support and representation. You’d be surprised at how complicated even seemingly straightforward cases can become, and no matter how “simple” your case may seem, there are many obstacles that lie between you and justice. It is important to have a legal team behind you that is dedicated to representing you and your rights throughout every step of your case, and The Igwe Law firm is that team. We will provide you and your case with the time and commitment that you deserve.

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Car accidents can have a significant impact on people's lives, especially if there are injuries involved. Even minor accidents can result in substantial medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. In addition, the psychological effects of a car accident can be long-lasting and may include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The insurance claims process after a car accident depends on the surrounding circumstances. In general, drivers carry minimum liability insurance in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Liability insurance can cover the costs of property damage and injuries caused by the driver. If a driver is at fault, their insurance company may be responsible for paying out a claim to the involved parties.

However, insurance companies may dispute claims or offer lower settlement amounts than what the injured party believes they are entitled to. In such cases, injured parties may need an attorney to help negotiate a fair settlement.

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of accident in America. According to Forbes, around 5,250,873 vehicle collisions occur annually, and about 5 million of them result in injuries and property damage.

• If you've been in a motor vehicle accident that caused bodily harm or property damage, it's well within your right to file a compensation claim. However, the claim filing process can be long, tedious, and full of foreign legal terms you've never heard of.

To help you navigate the motor vehicle accident claim filing process better, here are eleven most common terms that you may come across and their meaning.

Common Terms Used in Motor Vehicle Accident Cases

These are the terms associated with the claim filing process. Some are insurance-related and others are legal terms:

1st Party and 3rd Party

First party and third party are two common insurance terms used in the claim process to refer to various parties involved in the accident. Typically, "first party" refers to the vehicle owner who pays car insurance policy premiums and is entitled to make a claim or receive insurance benefits from their insurance provider for the said vehicle.

If you are in the process of filing a personal injury claim, whether due to injuries sustained in a car accident or after a slip and fall, you may find yourself wondering what your case may be worth. Before you are able to receive compensation for your injuries, you must be able to prove that another party's negligence resulted in your injuries. If you prevail in proving another person's negligence, you will likely be entitled to recover damages for your injuries and losses sustained during the accident.

The precise amount of damages you will be awarded for your injuries will depend on a number of factors. There are several types of damages a claimant can be awarded in a personal injury case, and the types of damages you may be entitled to will depend on the circumstances of your accident. Keep reading to learn more about the types of damages you may be able to recover in a personal injury case.

Monetary Damages

Most damages awarded in a personal injury case are monetary, meaning that they are meant to compensate victims for financial losses associated with their accident and the injuries they sustained. Monetary damages that you may be awarded for your injuries can include those compensating you for:

Keeping your personal health information private is a fundamental step towards protecting your right to privacy. It also protects you from discrimination and builds trust with healthcare providers, who play a key role in information holding. The law protects the right to have personal health information private through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which bars health providers from providing any information about your health, including personal identifiable information such as their social security number. However, in personal injury claims, providing your health records is crucial in proving your case. Your attorney needs to have a HIPAA authorization form signed by you to access your medical records. Below is an overview of the form and why it's important to your personal injury case.

What's a HIPAA Authorization Form?

This document gives third-parties access to your medical information for purposes other than medical treatment. For instance, in a personal injury claim, the form allows an attorney to use the information to prepare evidence and present it to the court when needed. Here is a list of the type of information the HIPAA authorization form should have:

The United States Constitution is revered as one of the most elegant documents ever produced. It is the guiding light by which the United States is governed. If something is in violation of the Constitution it is deemed illegal and prohibited. However, the Constitution is not merely a set of restrictions on one's life, quite the opposite. The Constitution is also where we derive our civil rights and liberties from.

What Are Civil Rights?

The Department of Health and Human Services, a branch of the Federal government, provides the following definition of civil rights:

Civil rights are personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Civil rights include protection from unlawful discrimination.

These rights are essentially all of your freedoms and liberties as provided by the Constitution and the various laws passed in accordance with the Constitution. Protection of those rights is of utmost importance to all persons. We all want to live in a free and fair society. And it is only possible when all people in that society are treated equally. Sadly, the country has not always lived up to that ideal. However, it is something that we should continue to strive for in all that we do as a nation.

Slip and fall accidents occur with frequency, in many types of settings. Injuries from a slip and fall can be severe. They can range from bruises and broken bones to serious head trauma, spinal injuries, or even death. Even people who are healthy and fit may have to deal with the unexpected pain and anxiety caused by serious injury and resulting financial difficulties. If you're suffering from catastrophic injuries, and the resulting medical bills and income loss from being unable to work, you need the help of a catastrophic injury attorney.

Perhaps you're unfamiliar with the details of slip and fall injury cases. Maybe you're unsure if you or a friend or relative is getting fair compensation for injuries incurred in a slip and fall accident. Or what conditions are necessary to file a slip and fall lawsuit.

That's why we've prepared the following outline which includes some statistics related to the significant problem of slip and fall injuries across the US and differences in laws regarding slip and fall lawsuits in the eastern states we serve, PA, NJ, DE, MD, D.C. and NY. We've also included some tips that can help you avoid becoming a slip and fall victim, and what to do if you should unfortunately suffer serious injury from a slip and fall caused by the negligence of another.

If you are a victim of a motor vehicle accident (MVA), you need to be aware of your rights and how to obtain compensation. The meanings of the following terms used in MVA legal actions can help you understand the process.

What is a motor vehicle accident (MVA)?

An MVA, also known as a "car accident' is a collision with another vehicle, a pedestrian, an animal, or a stationary object such as public and personal property. A lamp post or tree along a street is public property while a family's white picket fence or carport is private property. Motor vehicles range from motor scooters to semis. If the vehicle has a motor, it is a motor vehicle.

What does an initial investigation entail?

After the injured, if any, are treated, the priority is an initial investigation of the accident. Law enforcement officials, insurance adjusters, and attorneys use this information in issuing tickets, referring a driver to the court system, paying claims, and trying court cases. The investigation must begin as soon as safely possible. Persons involved and bystanders can record information using notepads and cameras while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. Documentation is needed for the following:

Thousands of individuals are victims of wrongful convictions yearly and often spend years behind bars before exoneration. For many of these men and women, the harm caused by their incarceration extends well beyond their time spent locked away.

Unfortunately, even though some states have laws against false imprisonment, the prosecution has the power to file charges without having enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This misfortune leaves defendants vulnerable to being falsely accused of crimes.

Hundreds of thousands of innocent people serve time in prisons across the United States, ranging between 2% to 10% of total convictions. The problem is that these individuals are often wrongly convicted due to lack of evidence, ineffective legal representation, or prosecutorial misconduct.

What Is a Wrongful Conviction?

Wrongful convictions are unfortunately common in the United States. A wrongful conviction occurs when someone wrongly convicted of a crime is later exonerated or released from prison.

If you’ve lived in the Philadelphia area long enough, then there’s no doubt that you’ve seen some crazy driving, and there’s a good chance you may have been involved in an accident yourself. Either way, there’s no doubt that automobile accidents are a common occurrence, and as a driver or passenger, it is imperative to know your rights if you are involved in one. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident and are thinking about pursuing a personal injury case, here are 5 things you need to know about your case, and what you may be entitled to.

Tort Coverage

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers two distinct options for drivers when they choose their auto insurance policy: Full Tort, and Limited Tort. In a nutshell, Full Tort is a coverage that allows you to sue for compensation for pain and suffering no matter the significance. Limited Tort also allows the policy holder to recover monetary damages for pain and suffering as well, but the pain and suffering must qualify as “serious” under Pennsylvania law. Although it is outlined within the law, many accidents fall often fall into a gray area that can take months to resolve. If you’re concerned about your coverage, then it is very important to look into your Tort coverage to see what you are eligible to collect.

When you seek medical attention, whether for a regular checkup or for diagnosis and treatment of a serious or even life-threatening medical condition, you place your trust in the skill, expertise, and attention of your healthcare provider. We all hope for the very best from these practitioners, and understand that there is no such thing as a guarantee of a positive outcome. But there is a difference between a physician not being able to provide the exact results that you are hoping for and a physician actually doing harm. At the Igwe Firm, we understand that when the medical profession has failed you, it is hard to know if you were injured by your doctor or whether the outcome was not their fault. As an experienced personal injury law firm, we have the resources available to help you make that distinction, and to provide you with legal representation if you have been the victim of medical malpractice.

One of the most important things that you need to understand if you suspect that you were injured by your doctor is exactly what the definition of medical malpractice is. In order to prove that your physician or health care provider has failed in their duty to provide you with the care to which you are entitled, the Igwe Firm will look for four specific factors, including

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, then we don’t have to tell you about the joy that comes with the ride. But you may need information on a more uncomfortable topic, and that is the risk of getting into an accident. The feeling of freedom that makes riding so unique is offset by the fact that when things go wrong, there’s very little between you and the road, or another vehicle for that matter. To minimize your chance of injury it is important that you make sure that your bike is in tip-top condition and that you are properly equipped with all of the best safety gear, including a top quality helmet. You can also help yourself by understanding where the greatest risks come from. We are providing you with this helpful list of five common causes of motorcycle accidents in the hope that it provides you with the protection that you need. If you do get into a motorcycle accident and you suffer an injury as a result of another driver’s negligence, we can help with that too. Contact the Igwe Firm to learn more about how we can fight for your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve.

1. The motorcycle accident that happens most frequently occurs when a vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction turns left in front of you. It often happens without warning and without benefit of a turn signal, and though motorists tend to say that the motorcyclist came from out of nowhere, it is usually a matter of them not taking note of you and your bike because they are mentally looking for cars.
2. Motorcycles are automatically at a disadvantage when it comes to stability because they are on two weeks instead of four, and nowhere is this more obvious then when you hit a patch of gravel or oil on the road. It generally happens when you are rounding a corner too fast, as otherwise you would be able to see the issue from a distance. The best way to avoid this is to slow down when you are entering a blind spot area. Once you’ve seen that the roadway is clear, you can speed up again.
3. Speaking of slowing down, the third most common cause of motorcycle accidents is simply entering a turn at too high a rate of speed. It may be part of the excitement of the ride, but it also can end very badly.
4. You’re riding in your lane, minding your own business, when suddenly the car in the lane next to you shifts directly into you. The fault usually lies with the fact that we are in the driver’s blind spot. No doubt that it is their responsibility to thoroughly check to make sure that there’s nobody there, but in the meantime it is you that ends up in the hospital. Try to be mindful of blind spots and either speed up or slow down to avoid positioning yourself there.
5. Finally, there’s the accident that also afflicts the drivers of passenger cars – being rear ended. Though these can be minor accidents in automobiles, when you’re unprotected by bumpers and steel cages the result can be devastating. The best way to avoid being rear ended is to pull to the side, whether next to the car that was in front of you or simply to clear the way for the driver behind.

At The Igwe Firm, we handle trucking accidents of all kinds.

There’s no doubt about it, trucking accidents are among the scariest and most dangerous kinds of motor vehicle accidents, and when you’ve been in one, you need compassionate, experienced representation. Each and every case that we handle is unique, but many trucking accidents are caused by the same basic reasons. The following is a list from our truck accident lawyer in Philadelphia of the leading causes of trucking accidents:

#1. Driver Error

According to the FMSCA, driver error is at least ten times more likely to be the cause of an accident than any other factor. Fatigue, distraction, inattention and substance abuse are some of the most common examples of driver error.

#2. Equipment Failure

Manufacturing and design errors, defective tires and warning device failure are all examples of equipment failure that can cause truck accidents. Although the FMSCA requires truck drivers and their companies to perform pre-trip inspections, unfortunately, these inspections get ignored all too often, which can lead to accidents.

#3. Weather

If you have been arrested for theft in the state of Pennsylvania, you need help, and the attorneys at The Igwe Firm can help. There are many different types of theft, and different states and jurisdictions define theft in different ways, but in all cases if the police have arrested you and charged you with taking something that was not yours, then you need the help of an experienced lawyer to clear your name. The consequences of being found guilty of theft depend largely upon the value of the item that was stolen, as well as on whether you have previously been convicted of a similar crime, but no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, or for whatever reason a crime may have been committed, a conviction can result in jail time, a criminal record, having to pay fines, and more. Call The Igwe Firm at your first opportunity for help preparing a defense designed to prove your innocence or minimize the impact of the charges.

In Pennsylvania, theft charges can mean many things and can take many forms. Here are five things you should know if you’ve been arrested for theft:

1. If you have been charged with theft, it means that the police believe that you have stolen from another person rather than from a business or a store.
2. You can be charged with theft of property from another person even if you did not set out to take something away from them. If a person loses an item and you find it , or if it falls into your possession by mistake and you don’t take reasonable action to return it to the rightful owner, then you can still be charged with theft.
3. Theft can include failing to make payments on an item that you are contractually obligated to make payments on.
4. In the state of Pennsylvania, the severity of a theft charge is dependent upon the value of the item that was stolen. If an item’s value is less than $50, then the theft is considered a misdemeanor of the third degree, where if it is valued at between $200 and $2000 it is still a misdemeanor, but of the first degree. Once an item’s value climbs above $2,000, the theft is considered a felony.
5. In all cases, if you have been accused of a theft, it is important that you behave in a respectful manner to the police and do not speak to anybody about the charges against you. Instead, tell the authorities that you want to speak to an attorney, and contact an attorney at the earliest time possible.

There are tens of thousands of truck accidents every year and the majority of them involve passenger vehicles. Defensive driving, even if you are not at fault, can save lives. Here are tips to reduce your risk as a driver of a passenger vehicle while out on the road.

• Drive at a safe distance from semi trucks and other vehicles. This is from zero to 35 miles per hour, a safe following distance is two seconds behind. With the higher speeds, this distance will increase to allow for safe stops. When weather is poor, fog, rain, ice or snow, you should decrease your speeds and distance between other vehicles to allow response time if you need to stop or slow down.
• Don’t drive in blind spots. You’ll know you’re in a blind spot if you can’t see the driver and they can’t see you. When you’re in a blind spot (also includes “No-Zones” for trucks) you leave yourself at risk for being invisible to the driver.
• Drive consistently, not erratically. Speeding up and slowing down or changing lanes often and sporatically can create a problem for the driver of a semi. They likely won’t be able to track where you are and know if you are in their “No-Zone” when they need to make a quick lane change.

Product Liability cases are some of the most overlooked case in any field of law. Why? Well, one of the main reasons is because it is very difficult to judge whether or when an unfortunate incident translates into a case. Who’s liable? What qualifies as negligence? What kinds of damages can be recovered? As a consumer, it’s incredibly important to know what factors determine a legitimate claim. Let’s take a look at the major facts you need to know if you’re considering a product liability lawsuit:

First of All, what is Product Liability?

At its most basic, product liability is an area of law written to protect you, the consumer, from dangerous or defective products that can lead to injury or bodily harm. In a general sense, this can include many factors regarding the creation, distribution, and selling of the product. The manufacturing process, the shipping process, even the market tactics used to advertise the product can play a role. As a complex and highly interpretive form of law, only a qualified product liability lawyer can help you determine whether your situation applies.

The occurrence of truck accidents throughout the United States has increased over the last couple of decades. While it’s true that some accidents are unavoidable, other accidents are avoidable when both drivers know and understand how to interact on the road. Take your time when driving and should you get into a truck accident, contact a lawyer in the Philadelphia area for help in protecting your rights.

• Pay attention while driving, especially around semi trucks. Keep both hands on the wheel at all times. Keep your eyes on the road without distraction. Know where your car is in relation to the vehicles around you. Check your mirrors and speed, by looking at something new every three seconds.
• Lower your brights when approaching a semi truck. Avoid blasting your lights at semi drivers, it could cause temporary blindness.
• Don’t cut semi-trucks off. One great way to make sure they have enough time to react and adjust their driving when you need to change lanes is to signal the lane change, but don’t get over until you can count to three after you have the whole cab of the truck in your rearview mirror.

Use these safety tips to avoid having an accident with semi trucks. Do your part to avoid accidents. Accidents with semi trucks are much more dangerous and involve more fatalities than between passenger vehicles. If an accident does happen, contact us at The Igwe Firm to talk about your rights with our truck accident lawyers. Schedule a free case evaluation today!

A DUI is a very serious offense, and it should always be treated as such. For many people, it’s often their first run-in with the law, and it can negatively affect their life in potentially disastrous and even irreversible ways. If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, what you choose to to do right after can mean the difference between thousands of dollars of fines, hundreds of hours of community service, and even jail time. There are ways to minimize the repercussions and to speed up the process in order to resolve the issue and move on with your life as quickly as possible. If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, here are the 5 things you need to do in the ensuing several days in order to help protect yourself and to help move the process further.

Document Your Experience with Law Enforcement

The absolute first thing you need to do is contact your lawyer. Having proper representation is an absolute must in order to ensure that your rights are properly upheld. Also, in order for an attorney to properly help you with your case, you need to be prepared to recount your entire night to them in detail. While everything is still fresh, it’s a good idea to write down everything that happened that night, including what happened prior to getting in your car, when, where, and why you were stopped, your interaction with the officer or officers, what tests were administered to you, what they explained to you, etc. This is incredibly important in order to keep track of mistreatment, as well as building the foundation for your case.

Climbing onto a passenger bus is something that tens of millions of American citizens do every day. People rely on buses to get them to and from work and school or to and from shopping centers where they purchase their groceries or clothing. Many people choose buses as their preferred mode of transportation for vacations or on short trips between major cities. Though we generally think of passenger buses as safe, the truth is that there are on average over 63,000 bus accidents every year, and about 14,000 people end up injured as a result. If you were injured in a passenger bus accident, then you may be entitled to compensation for any injuries that you suffered, but in order to get the compensation that you deserve, you need to make sure that you have the right legal representation. At The Igwe Firm, we are dedicated to getting justice for those who have been injured in passenger bus accidents, and we want you to know the five important steps to take so you can get the compensation that you deserve.

When a passenger bus is involved in an accident and passengers sustain injuries, those passengers may be entitled to compensation for the damages that they have suffered, but that compensation is not automatic. There are certain steps that you need to take in order to make sure that you can support your claim and get what you deserve. In order to do that, we advise our clients to follow these five steps:

When an American consumer is injured as a result of having used or come into contact with a product, they can file a specific type of lawsuit known as a product liability claim. Product liability claims hold manufacturers and others who play a role in bringing the product to market legally responsible for the damage that the product has done, and provides the person who has suffered harm with compensation for their medical expenses, any lost wages, and in some cases for the pain and suffering that they have endured. Product liability lawsuits can also result in punitive damages, which are meant to send a message to the industry to show more care and responsibility. Product liability lawsuits are generally based on one of three basic types of defects:

• Defects in the design of the product
• Defects in how the product was manufactured or assembled
• Defects in the way that the product was marketed, including its labeling, the instructions provided, or any safety warnings that may have been insufficient or missing

When a product liability lawsuit charges a defendant with design defects, it means that the problem originated when the product was still in the idea or planning stage. It charges the manufacturer with not having identified a flaw or error, and that failure resulted in a dangerous product being brought to market. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a defect in the design of a product, the personal injury attorneys at the Igwe Firm can help. We will fight for the compensation that you deserve.