School Buses Collide in Potomac, Maryland, Injuring Students

           This morning was the first day of school for Montgomery County Public School students.  Unfortunately, for several high schoolers attending Winston Churchill High School, this morning was not a normal school day.  Instead of driving straight to school on the bus, they were involved in an accident with another school bus headed to the same place.  Luckily, only a few students suffered minor injuries and no one was seriously injured.  One school bus rear-ended another school bus, and the exact cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

            

           With school back in session for most students now, the risk of school bus accidents increases.  School buses involve a significant safety risk for children because there are no seatbelts to protect them in the event of an accident.  In addition, since school buses carry numerous students while driving, there is always a concern of several children getting injured if the bus is involved in an accident.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a school bus accident that is caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Rockville or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Bus-Accidents.shtml

Handsfree Cellphone Use Not Safer than Handheld Cellphone Use

            With laws in place in many states prohibiting handheld electronic devices to be used while driving, many people are under the notion that those laws are in place because it is much safer to use a handsfree device than to hold a phone in your hand while driving.  MythBusters, a popular show on the Discovery Channel, recently tested whether it was safer for drivers to talk on their cell phone using a handsfree device than to use a handheld phone.  Maryland drivers are required by law to use handsfree devices when making phone calls.  MythBusters, in testing this theory, proved that it does not matter whether you are holding the electronic device or using a handsfree device, it was dangerous either way.  Drivers who talked on the phone while holding it to their ear performed poorly in the driving test.  In addition, drivers who talked on the phone using a handsfree device also performed poorly in the driving test.  Although there were slight differences in the test scores, these differences were too negligible to make much of a difference. 

            

           The real culprit when it comes to cell phones in the car is the phone call itself.  Just by talking and listening during a phone call, a person’s brain is functioning even more so than just driving.  The phone call is an added distraction to a person, no matter whether it is handsfree or handheld, and accidents are bound to occur.

            

           Cell phone use while driving, whether it is texting or talking on the phone, handsfree or handheld, is very dangerous.  Use of an electronic device while driving is always a leading cause for accidents on the roads.  Never text and drive, and if at all possible, try to avoid making phone calls while driving as well.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident that is caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Columbia or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/

Baltimore Batman Struck and Killed on I-70

             Late Sunday night, Batman’s Batmobile started having engine troubles on Interstate 70 near Hagerstown as he was making his way back from a car show in West Virginia.  He tried to pull his car over to the shoulder, but was still partially in the fast lane when the car stopped.  Batman, also known as Lenny Robinson from Owings Mills, was working on his car’s engine, standing in front of the vehicle.  A Toyota Camry crashed into the Batmobile, which in turn ran over Mr. Robinson, tragically killing him at the scene.  He was famous for dressing up as Batman and making appearance at schools to talk about bullying and at children’s hospitals.  Maryland State Police are still investigating the accident to see if any charges need to be filed against the driver of the Toyota.

            

            It is still too early to know the exact cause of the accident.  It does appear that the fact that Mr. Robinson’s vehicle was still partly in lanes of traffic on the highway played a role in the crash.  Police will have to find out if the driver of the Toyota was texting and driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or doing some other dangerous activity.  Any death that happens on a highway is tragic, but the death of Mr. Robinson is even more so upsetting to the Maryland community because of who he was and what he did.  This accident is just another reminder for drivers on the shoulder that just because you are pulled over does not mean you are out of harm’s way.  People are killed every day by other cars that strike them while they are on the shoulder of a highway.  Anyone on the side of a highway must take proper safety precautions to make sure other drivers can see them (i.e. hazard lights on the car, wearing bright reflective clothing, standing as far away from the lanes of travel as possible, etc.)

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a driver as a pedestrian and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Owings Mills or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Employee Spotlight August 2015

            Celia Zuniga, our newest Legal Assistant in our growing Spanish Department, has recently joined the Portner & Shure family.  Celia was born in El Salvador and moved to California when she was 15.  At that time, she did not speak any English, but managed to learn it quickly in school.  Celia attended college in Glendale, California, as well as in Maryland, where she earned her Paralegal degree.  Celia has lived in Maryland since 1998 and enjoys raising her two kids, ages 12 and 8.  In her free time, Celia loves to read, watch soccer, and play with her two dogs.

Litigation News August 2015

            Portner & Shure recently won $20,735 for a client injured in a Maryland car accident in Montgomery County.  Our client was hit at a red light and there was a dispute as to whether a lane change caused the crash.  We had an independent witness to the accident, yet the Defendant’s insurance carrier denied liability and never made a settlement offer.  Our client’s total medical costs were just over $6000.  Counsel for the Defendant refused to concede liability and just proceed on the damages only at trial.  The Court found the Defendant liable.  Our trial attorney in this case was Kevin Ruby. 

What Clients Are Saying August 2015

“This was honestly the easiest, pain free experience of my life. I was in a car accident and I was advised to get an attorney. I had the pleasure of working with Christina Ruhl. She was the best person to have on my side. She always answered any questions or concerns that I had, even if it was a smaller question, she was there for me. I received an even bigger settlement than I expected which was extra nice. They were able to work with me, and instead of having the check mailed to me which would have taken longer, they allowed me to come pick it up at the office on my lunch break. It was the smoothest process I could have ever imagined. I still can't thank her enough. They literally took care of everything. I just sat back and got updates.”

This case was handled by our Associate Attorney, Christina Ruhl.

Fatal Hit and Run Accident Kills Pedestrian in Bel Air

            Last Friday night, a mother and her daughter were crossing route 40 at Maryland Route 7 in Bel Air when the mother was hit by two different cars.  The first car that hit her never stopped, but the second car stopped immediately to see what happened.  Very little information is known about the first vehicle.  The victim’s daughter says the car was a passenger vehicle with damage to the front end and windshield.  In the area of the accident, there are no crosswalks for pedestrians, so it is unlikely that the victim was using a crosswalk at the time of the accident.

Pedestrian safety affects everyone at all times of the day and on all types of roadways.  Many pedestrian accident injuries and fatalities are caused by intoxication or inattentiveness (i.e. texting while walking) on the part of the pedestrian.  However, sometimes there are negligent drivers who run through a crosswalk filled with people, hit someone, and keep driving.  In this case, it is unclear if the pedestrian was at fault because it does not appear that there was a crosswalk.  Another important aspect of pedestrian accidents is that if the pedestrian contributes to the accident in any way, he or she cannot recover any compensation.  This is referred to as contributory negligence.  Sadly, numerous fatal pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian is not in a crosswalk and they are not able to collect any compensation from the at-fault driver.  In a hit-and-run accident, the driver will still face criminal charges, but the victim’s family will not be able to recover any damages as a result of the accident because the pedestrian contributed to the accident by not using a crosswalk.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a driver as a pedestrian and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Bel Air or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Elkridge, Maryland

           Over the weekend, a 64 year old man was riding his motorcycle on Washington Boulevard just past Route 100 in Elkridge, Maryland.  As the motorcyclist was making a turn, he was struck by a 2014 GMC Acadia.  The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital for serious injuries and sadly later died.  The initial investigation by police revealed that the SUV driver “failed to yield the right-of-way” to the turning motorcyclist.  As of right now, no charges have neem filed against the driver, but police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Motorcyclists are most at risk for severe injury when involved in accidents on the road with other cars, trucks, or buses.  Automobiles have several safety features that prevent serious injury when accidents occur, such as seatbelts, airbags, and a windshield.  Motorcycles, on the other hand, offer no protection whatsoever for their riders when a crash occurs.  There are no seatbelts to restrain motorcyclists, there are no airbags to limit impact in a crash, and there is no windshield or any other similar device to prevent the rider from flipping over the handlebars of the motorcycle.  Motorcyclists must wear helmets and other protective gear and clothing to limit injury as much as possible if involved in a crash.  It is not known if the motorcyclist here was wearing a helmet or other safety gear.  Speed and treacherous weather conditions are often the causes of motorcycle crashes.  But in this case, there were no weather problems yesterday with warm and sunny conditions all weekend.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a Maryland motorcycle accident that is caused by the negligence or fault of another driver, please contact us to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Columbia and throughout Maryland for a free case evaluation.  Call our office today at (301) 854-9000 or visit us online to learn more about Maryland motorcycle accidents: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Motorcycle-Accidents.shtml

Stop on Red Week—4 Maryland Jurisdictions Lead the State with the Most Red-Light Running Fatalities

            While the recently compiled list of Top-10 Most Dangerous Cities for Red-Light Running does not include a Maryland city, fatal accidents attributed to running a red light are still quite high.  Baltimore City ranked highest for deaths caused by running a red light with 26 during the period of 2004-2013.  Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Harford Counties also had numerous fatalities, with 11, 22, and 11, respectively. Accidents caused by someone running a red light can easily be prevented by simply stopping at a red light.  Several intersections have red light cameras installed to deter drivers from running through stop lights, but there are still drivers that drive right through a red light.  The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) has compiled a list of the Top 10 Reasons to Stop on Red.

            

           The attorneys at Portner & Shure receive countless calls every day from people injured in accidents. However, our attorneys must screen out most cases, in part because there is no attorneys fee unless we get a recovery. 

Our screening procedure includes the following.  First, we have to gather as many facts as possible about the accident. Facts we need to know include: (1) who’s fault was the accident, (2) if it was another driver’s fault, were they cited by police, (3) were you injured in the accident, (4) have you sought medical treatment from a doctor or in a hospital.  In an accident case where the driver running a red light is the cause, it is easy for our attorneys to prove that the red-light-running driver was negligent and liable for all damages and injuries in the resulting accident.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident that is caused by the fault or negligence of another person running a red light and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Columbia or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/

Deadly Accident on I-70 Caused by Car Driving Wrong Way

            Overnight, a tractor trailer and a car travelling the wrong way collided on Interstate 70 just past Frederick, Maryland.  The truck driver did not survive the crash after it hit a bridge abutment.  One of the passengers in the car also did not survive.  The other person in the car suffered serious injuries and is being treated at the hospital.  Police are still investigating this accident to figure out why the car was driving the wrong way on the highway.  With the collision occurring at 2:30am, alcohol being a factor certainly comes into question as well as drowsiness on the part of the tractor trailer driver and the car driver.

            

             Accidents involving tractor trailers always produce much more severe damage and injuries due to the power and large size of the trucks.  The most common cause of accidents involving tractor trailers is driver fatigue.  Oftentimes, truck drivers are forced to drive long shifts to meet a deadline and will not take a break to rest because they want to get to the destination on time. 

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a truck accident and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Frederick or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/