Greenbelt, Maryland Auto Accident Attorney|When the Police Report is Wrong

After a car accident, it is wise to call the police so that they can make a report of the accident. In the report, the officer will jot down information such as where the accident occurred, who was involved, witnesses that were present, the extent of the vehicle damage, the injuries sustained by the parties, and, sometimes, which party was at fault. This is very helpful when it comes time to determine liability later on, but what happens if the police report is incorrect? Or worse, what if the information on the report points to you as the one who is liable?

There are many ways in which one can handle a tricky police report, but it is wise to contact an experienced auto accident attorney to take care of the situation for you. When the police report is working against you, your case is beyond a cut-and-dry case and it is important to have a knowledgeable lawyer to assist the situation.

The first step in handling an incorrect police report is to make a request to have the report amended. This request would include a statement of facts of the pertinent details of the accident and your attorney would ask that your version of the incident be attached to the original report. It will be entirely up to the officer's discretion whether or not to include your version of events into the report, so it is essential that an attorney make the request for you. 

If the police report suggests that you are the party at fault, your attorney can take steps to defend you. Your lawyer can attack faults on the report like information that was taken from the other party or an unreliable witnesses. Another way to fight a police report is to attack the experience and training to analyze skid marks or vehicle positioning.

The attorneys at Portner & Shure are ranked amongst the best in Greenbelt, Maryland and around the DC Metro area. In fact, Jonathan Portner is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, has been featured in TIME magazine's 2013 Excellence in Law, and is a member of The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers organization. We strive to listen and communicate with our clients through our multilingual paralegals and provide the best legal services with our knowledgeable attorneys and legal team.

Ellicott City Auto Accident Attorney | Motorcyclist Killed in Howard County

A motorcyclist was killed when his motorcycle crashed with a car in Ellicott City, Maryland Howard County police said.

Police say an officer saw the motorcyclist speeding in the westbound lane on U.S. 40 around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities say the officer tried to stop the vehicle, but stopped following it to avoid a high-speed pursuit.

Witnesses told police the driver sped through the red light at U.S. 40 and Normandy Drive and was running a red light at U.S. 40 and Rogers Avenue when he was struck by a 2001 Saturn sedan making a legal left turn on a green arrow from U.S. 40 onto Rogers Avenue.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital as a precaution but had no serious, physical injuries.

Motorcycle riders experience significantly higher rates of fatal injury as compared to motor vehicle occupants. In 2011, motorcycle riders were more than 30 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 5 times more likely to be injured. Motorcyclist fatalities have decreased in Maryland over the past five years, but still account for 16% of all traffic fatalities. According to the CDC, after reinstating their universal helmet law, Maryland saw motorcycle deaths drop by 37%. Maryland ranks #5 in the nation for lives saved and economic costs saved due to helmet use.