Drivers beware: What it means for you now that the Philadelphia police will no longer respond to minor traffic accidents
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on May 3rd, 2010
For years, if you were involved in a traffic accident in Philadelphia – even a minor fender-bender – you could call the police and they would respond with an officer who would produce an accident report. That was a good thing. It provided details of the accident, an officer's hand-drawn illustration of the accident scene, full names of the drivers involved and information about any witnesses and other relevant details. If you were injured, this...
How to stop the “flash mob” mentality
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 30th, 2010
Two weekends ago, Philadelphia's South Street residents, merchants and community suffered from yet another "flash mob" incident, where bands of teenagers summoned each other via cell phone text messages and social media Web sites including Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to hang out and get together. But as it's happened in the past, it was way more than just "hanging out." Many of the teens became agitated, some became violent and all became essentially out of...
Sexting update: Court rules teen girl can’t be charged with a felony
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 25th, 2010
A U.S. Court of Appeals got it right recently when it ruled that a teenaged girl whose semi-nude photo was transmitted via a cell phone text message cannot be charged with felony child abuse charges. That was the correct decision in this so-called "sexting" case that got big headlines and showed just how ridiculous the legal system can get when it is fueled by ideologies rather than by reality. We last wrote about this case...
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Stats Poke (Another) Hole in Tort Reform
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 19th, 2010
Medical malpractice lawsuits are the talk of Washington, again, as President Obama seeks to reassure Republican lawmakers that he is willing to listen to them and consider their recommendations for fixing healthcare. For most of these Republican Senators and House Representatives, there is but one solution to our nation’s woes and that is tort reform. Even though analysts and experts have shown time and time again that medical malpractice lawsuits make up but a small...
Damage caps on injury cases harm accident and medical malpractice victims a second time
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 16th, 2010
Are you willing to give up your rights to be compensated fully for ALL of the damages caused by another? If you are injured in an accident, you can be sure that you want to recover every dollar you are entitled to for your treatment and for your pain and suffering. But insurance companies for years have been trying to fight you tooth and nail to minimize what they pay out to you for pain...
Need a lawyer? Here are some helpful hints about how to select the right one
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 10th, 2010
At some point in your life, you will probably need to hire a lawyer. It may be for help when you are injured in a vehicle accident or fall, or if you are going through a divorce, tax dispute, criminal charges or custody or other legal issues. It's uncommon today if at some point you don't have to at least consult an attorney about something in your life. So if that happens, where in the...
Gun rights on Main Street: more citizens with legal “open carry” guns is not the answer
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 6th, 2010
You're sitting in Starbucks having a coffee and relaxing when another customer walks in with a big, shiny handgun in a holster on his hip and heads over to the counter. Do you: A) Hit the deck in the fear that there's about to be a robbery? B) Feel uncomfortable because of the menacing presence of this stranger and his gun in such a non-traditional, non-threatening setting? C) Feel reassured due to the presence of...
Law enforcement officers and DUI: time to get to the root of the problem
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 4th, 2010
Twice in the last three months, Philadelphia-area law enforcement officers have been involved in off-duty vehicle accidents that allegedly involve driving under the influence of alcohol. For law enforcement officers, who absolutely, positively must be accountable to a higher standard than the people they are sworn to protect, that is unacceptable. Last month, a 23-year-old off-duty Philadelphia Police officer was driving north on I-95 near Girard Avenue when his vehicle crashed into the rear of...
Beware: lawsuit settlement cash advances can cost you far more than you realize
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on March 3rd, 2010
It’s bad enough when you are injured in an accident and then have to wait for a monetary settlement or verdict to compensate you for your injuries. It’s even worse if you are victimized a second time by one of the many companies out there that are cashing in on the anticipated cash settlements of injured people by “loaning” them money up front and then taking huge windfalls from the settlements when the money is...