Annapolis, Maryland Auto Accident Attorney

Visit us at:  www.portnerandshure.com

or call to speak with one of our experienced Annapolis, Maryland auto accident attorneys at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation.

3 Things You Need to Know After an Accident

When you are involved in an auto accident, the steps you take after that accident can be essential to the outcome of your case. In order to protect your claim, follow these three tips:

1)     Don't Speak: It is important to understand that when then insurance company calls to speak with you, they are working against your claim. This means that the information that you give them is information that can be used against you. As a layman, you may not realize what kind of information is harmful or helpful to your case. Because of this, it is essential that you find the help of an experienced Annapolis, Maryland auto accident attorney who can advise you. Furthermore, a car accident lawyer can speak to the insurance company for you so that you will not make the mistake of revealing too much information. Not speaking to the insurance company is especially important for those who do not speak English fluently or speak English as a second language. The insurance company may take advantage of the language barrier to obtain information they can use against you.

2)     Focus on Treatment: When you are treating for your injuries, you must listen to the advice of your doctor. Do not attempt self-diagnosis or stop treatment before your doctor advises you that you no longer need further treatment. Some clients make the mistake of ending their treatment process early and later discover that they are not fully recovered. By this time, it may be too late for those clients to make a claim for the treatment they subsequently receive. Don't make this mistake and risk your claim - listen to the advice of your doctor.

3)     Don't Rush: The settlement process takes time. Our experienced Annapolis, Maryland car accident attorneys are skilled in the delicate art of negotiation. Oftentimes, this includes waiting out the insurance company to make them nervous. Because of this, it is important for clients to be patient and allow the attorney to obtain the most for your claim. 

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, truck, bus or motorcycle accident, and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on car accidents please feel free to contact our office at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

　

Ocean City, Maryland DUI / DWI Attorney

Visit us at:  www.portnerandshure.com

or call to speak with one of our experienced Ocean City, Maryland DUI attorneys at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation.

Pleading Guilty to a Ocean City, Maryland DUI Charge

Many of those who are convicted of a DUI are offered a plea bargain. This means there is an offer for a lesser charge, or other concession from prosecution, if the defendant states that he was guilty. It is very difficult for those who are charged with a DUI to know and understand if their plea bargain is truly a good deal - only an experienced DUI attorney can help you to determine the right choice to make: plea or fight.

 

Many who plead guilty without the advice of an experienced Ocean City, Maryland DUI attorney may not truly realize the consequences of their plea. The first thing to realize about pleading guilty is that you are waving all of your Constitutional rights in your case! This means that any right, such as your right to remain silent or your right to a trial, are forfeited.

 

After pleading guilty, you are convicted of the offense against you. Many fail to realize this simple fact: a guilty plea is the same as a conviction. After you have chosen to plead guilty, it will be extremely difficult for you to withdraw your guilty plea. This means that it is essential to understand the possible penalties that you face when pleading guilty. In Maryland, a first offense DUI charge can land you with up to 1 year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine and license suspension of up to 6 months, with a minimum of 45 days.

 

Portner & Shure has seen many cases in which clients had a good chance to fight their DUI charge in ways that the client did not even realize. There are also often offers for unfair plea bargains when a defendant faces their charges alone as opposed to alongside an attorney with an aggressive reputation. An experienced Ocean City, Maryland DWI Lawyer from Portner & Shure will help explain to you the mitigating and aggravating factors of your particular case and guide you to determine the best course of action to take.

 

An experienced Maryland DUI attorney who has seen countless DUI cases understands that there are many ways to succeed in a case, from getting a client a better plea deal, a lesser punishment, to even getting a "not guilty" finding. The complexities that are involved with a DUI case are too many to count. It is advised that you seek the counsel of a knowledgeable Maryland drunk driving attorney and have them review your case to discuss your options.

 

One of the best aspects of Portner & Shure is that they offer a risk-free consultation for clients. This means that an experienced Ocean City DUI attorney will speak with you about your case for free. Furthermore, our experienced Ocean City DUI lawyers are able to help clients who do not speak English or speak English as a second language. Our trained multilingual paralegals work closely with our highly-ranked Maryland DUI lawyers to help clients who speak Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. 

If you, a family member or someone you know has been convicted of driving under the influence or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI arrests, please call (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation or visit us on the web at http://portnerandshure.com

Maryland Workers Compensation Lawyer | Virginia Work Injury | Two Reasons Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer

Being injured at work can be one of the most painful, disruptive, and confusing events that can happen in a person's life. If you are unable to work, the loss of income can be extremely burdensome on an injured worker and their family. If you don't have health insurance, you may not know how to pay for medical treatment. And if you've sustained a permanent injury, you may wonder how you'll ever make ends meet in the future. Worrying about these issues on top of dealing with pain can be overwhelming.

An injury at work does not have to become a crisis. If you retain an experienced attorney from the get go, your attorney can help you get disability benefits, medical treatment, and even a lump sum award if you've sustained a permanent injury. This way, you can focus on your recovery.

One of the greatest values of retaining an attorney is that you will have someone who is on your side to protect your interests, financial and medical, every step of the way. If you've never made a workers compensation claim before, you may not realize that it can be an extremely adversarial process. The workers compensation insurance carrier is in the business of staying in business. That means they have an interest in avoiding compensating you if there is any colorable basis to deny your claim. The following are some of the most common reasons that workers compensation claims are denied - and how hiring an experienced attorney can prevent these things from happening to you.

Injured workers' claims are frequently denied on the basis that a causal connection is lacking, i.e., the injuries were preexisting. For example, you may have been in a prior motor vehicle accident and sustained a disk herniation in your lumbar spine, and then you reinjured your back at work. Although you may have been asymptomatic for years and working without any pain prior to the injury at work, the claim may be denied on the basis that your pain is actually related to the prior accident, not the injury at work.

An attorney can help you in a number of ways. First, if you haven't retained an attorney, most likely, you're being evaluated by a doctor who was hired by the insurance company. Your attorney can set you up with a doctor of your choice to examine you and provide an unbiased opinion as to the cause of your injuries. Your attorney can negotiate with the insurance company using your doctor's opinions to attempt to get your claim accepted. If the insurance carrier still refuses to accept the claim, your attorney can file issues on your behalf and a hearing will be set before an unbiased commissioner where your attorney will submit your doctor's opinions and will argue on your behalf.

Sometimes, an injured worker's claim is initially accepted and you receive some medical treatment and temporary total disability benefits (TTD). But then the checks stop coming. The insurance carrier justifies this for a variety of reasons. For example, their doctor has cleared you for light duty. If you don't go back to work light duty, your TTD benefits may be denied. But what do you do if there is no light duty available at your job? Or maybe their doctor has cleared you for vocational rehab, a program designed to strengthen you to get back to work. If you don't complete the program, your TTD benefits may be denied. What if you try to complete the program, but you simply are not well enough to do so? Or what if you can't drive to rehab because of the pain medication you're taking?

Again, your attorney can help you by setting you up with an unbiased doctor. If, after examining you, your doctor feels that you are unable to perform light duty, or not well enough to do vocational rehab, your doctor can write a report to that effect. Your attorney can then use your doctor's report to file issues on your behalf and obtain an order forcing the insurance carrier to pay your benefits.

At a time when it may feel like no one is on your side, hiring an attorney to be your advocate is one of the smartest things you can do to take control over your recovery.

If you or a family member has been injured as a result of an accidental injury at work and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on work accidents, please feel free to contact our office or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

Maryland Traffic Ticket Attorney | How to Defend Your Record

You've just been pulled over for speeding on I-95. As the officer approaches your vehicle, you think you're done for. You may have prior traffic citations, but you're not sure how many points you have on your license. You think: am I going to lose my license? What do I do now?

First, relax. There are a number of strategies you can use to protect your driving record. Your control over the outcome starts with the traffic stop itself. Be cooperative and polite with the officer. The officer has the power to lower your citation to a reduced speed in court (which means fewer points and a lower fine), and the officer will be much more inclined to do so if you were polite and cooperative.

Two, retain an attorney. If you've been given a serious traffic citation, you could be facing fines of up to $500 and loss of your driver's license. An attorney can protect your rights at trial by holding the officer to the requirements of the law. For example, an officer must prove four things in order to use a radar speed reading against you in court. The officer must show (1) that the equipment was properly tested and checked, (2) that it was manned by a competent operator, (3) that proper operative procedures were followed, and (3) that proper records were kept. See Fitzwater v. State, 57 Md. App. 274 (1984). At trial, an attorney can cross-examine the officer on these topics and attempt to have radar evidence of your speed excluded from trial.

An attorney can also negotiate with the officer on your behalf. The officer is much more likely to agree to reduce your citation if you have an attorney representing you. If you choose to plead guilty, an attorney can also argue to the judge to reduce your speed, resulting in fewer points and a lower fine, or to grant you probation before judgment, which results in zero points added to your license. An attorney can also help you get a probation before judgment expunged from your record, leaving you with no record of the citation.

If you wish to have a trial on your ticket, be sure to request one within 30 days by checking the "Request a Trial" box on the return to court copy of your citation. You may also "Request a Waiver Hearing" to plead guilty with an explanation in court. If you request a trial, the officer is required to appear, however, you can still choose to plead guilty at the hearing. If you elect to request a waiver hearing, the officer will not be required to appear, however you will be able to argue to the judge for a reduced sentence.

Knowing how many points you are facing before you get to court may reduce your anxiety over the citation. You can look up your citation on Maryland's schedule of fines and points here - www.courts.state.md.us/district/forms/criminal/dccr090.pdf. Whether you are in danger of losing your license will depend on the number of points you have accumulated in the last two years. At 5-7 points, you can complete a Driver Improvement Program to keep your license. At 8-11 points, your license will be suspended, however, you may request a hearing with the MVA to contest this. At 12 points, revocation proceedings will be instituted.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with a crime, convicted of DUI / DWI, or if you would like more information on criminal defense, please visit us on the web at http://portnerandshure.com

 

 

Laurel, Maryland Dog Bite Attorney

Visit us at:  www.portnerandshure.com

or call to speak with one of our experienced Maryland dog bite attorneys at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation

How to Prevent Your Dog from Biting

The experienced Maryland dog bite attorney's at Portner & Shure are notorious dog lovers. In fact, we are known for our occasional Cutest Dog Photo Contests! Although we love all dogs, we understand and respect the possibility that any dog can cause an injury through biting, no matter how small or gentle we believe them to be.

Even good dogs become aggressive when their territory, food, or young are threatened. Sometimes accidentally or unknowingly stepping on or harming a dog could trigger a bite. The truth that we do not forget is that no matter how well trained or how well behaved our dogs are, the possibility of biting is always there.

Because of this, we take steps to prevent our dogs from biting:

1)      Train: This is crucial in taking control of your dog and preventing dog bites. Teaching your dog to remain composed in different settings and situations will make strides for preventing a potential lawsuit. Having an obedient dog will give you more control when your dog is feeling threatened or scared.

2)      Socialize: Exposure to other dogs and other people from a young age will teach a dog how to be comfortable around others. By exposing them do these different groups, your dog will learn how to react.

3)      Leash: In order to maintain a level of control over your dog, it is essential that you use a leash. This is especially true for large dogs.

4)      Warn: Be sure to have clear signs around your property such as "Beware of dog." Make sure the signs are clearly written and visible. This will alert passers-by that your dog is in your yard or in the vicinity.

5)      Vaccinate: If your dog does bite someone, you may face more serious punishment if your dog has not had updated rabies shots. 

If you or a family member has been injured or killed as a result of a Maryland dog bite and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on dog bites please feel free to contact our office at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

College Park, Maryland Auto Accident Attorney|Minor Accident Injuries

Many of our clients later admit that they were reluctant to contact an attorney since they believed that their injuries were minor. This is a mistake that many people make when they have been injured in an accident. Clients are sometimes unsure if they should contact an attorney after an accident.

If you have been in an auto accident and you suspect, even if only slightly suspect, that you have been injured, it is essential to seek medical attention. Many injuries from auto accidents take time to manifest, and only a doctor can determine the extent of your injuries. Doctors can help assess X-Rays and MRIs to see injuries that may not be evident to you because the injuries cannot be seen. Many injuries from auto accidents require medical attention and treatment. If your medical doctor finds that your accident has caused an injury that needs to be treated, you should not hesitate to contact an attorney. 

If you are still feeling hesitant or unsure, the most experienced attorneys will be able to guide you risk-free. Clients who do not know if their injuries are sufficient to pursue a case should call an experienced attorney for a consultation. Reputable attorneys will offer a consultation for free to help clients determine if their case is worth pursuing. 

The knowledgeable attorneys at Portner & Shure are able to help clients with a free consultation, especially those clients who do not speak English or speak English as their second language. The attorneys at Portner & Shure are able to assist clients who speak Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. We have experienced multilingual paralegals on our staff that speak these lanuages natively. This means that you will be able to freely express the extent of your auto accident injuries, concerns, and questions to a paralegal who speaks your language and works closely with the attorneys. We take pride in being able to make our clients feel comfortable and allow them to fully understand their legal claim.

Our attorneys are amongst the best in the area. In fact, we have been recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Top 100 Trial Attorneys, and have been featured in TIME magazine's 2013 Excellence in Law. Feel confident in contacting a top-ranked firm risk-free. Our knowledgeable lawyers take pride in helping clients understand their case, and help them determine their case potential.

Maryland Speeding Ticket | How to Defend Your Driving Record

You've just been pulled over for speeding on I-95. As the officer approaches your vehicle, you think you're done for. You may have prior traffic citations, but you're not sure how many points you have on your license. You think: am I going to lose my license? What do I do now?

First, relax. There are a number of strategies you can use to protect your driving record. Your control over the outcome starts with the traffic stop itself. Be cooperative and polite with the officer. The officer has the power to lower your citation to a reduced speed in court (which means fewer points and a lower fine), and the officer will be much more inclined to do so if you were polite and cooperative.

Two, retain an attorney. If you've been given a serious traffic citation, you could be facing fines of up to $500 and loss of your driver's license. An attorney can protect your rights at trial by holding the officer to the requirements of the law. For example, an officer must prove four things in order to use a radar speed reading against you in court. The officer must show (1) that the equipment was properly tested and checked, (2) that it was manned by a competent operator, (3) that proper operative procedures were followed, and (3) that proper records were kept. See Fitzwater v. State, 57 Md. App. 274 (1984). At trial, an attorney can cross-examine the officer on these topics and attempt to have radar evidence of your speed excluded from trial.

An attorney can also negotiate with the officer on your behalf. The officer is much more likely to agree to reduce your citation if you have an attorney representing you. If you choose to plead guilty, an attorney can also argue to the judge to reduce your speed, resulting in fewer points and a lower fine, or to grant you probation before judgment, which results in zero points added to your license. An attorney can also help you get a probation before judgment expunged from your record, leaving you with no record of the citation.

If you wish to have a trial on your ticket, be sure to request one within 30 days by checking the "Request a Trial" box on the return to court copy of your citation. You may also "Request a Waiver Hearing" to plead guilty with an explanation in court. If you request a trial, the officer is required to appear, however, you can still choose to plead guilty at the hearing. If you elect to request a waiver hearing, the officer will not be required to appear, however you will be able to argue to the judge for a reduced sentence.

Knowing how many points you are facing before you get to court may reduce your anxiety over the citation. You can look up your citation on Maryland's schedule of fines and points here - www.courts.state.md.us/district/forms/criminal/dccr090.pdf. Whether you are in danger of losing your license will depend on the number of points you have accumulated in the last two years. At 5-7 points, you can complete a Driver Improvement Program to keep your license. At 8-11 points, your license will be suspended, however, you may request a hearing with the MVA to contest this. At 12 points, revocation proceedings will be instituted.

If you, a family member or someone you know has received a speeding violation or would like more information on defending your driving record, please visit us on the web at http://portnerandshure.com