Recent Case Results April 2018

Back in March of 2016, one of our clients was involved in a horrific rear-end accident. The van that struck him had an impact so great that Jaws of Life were required to free him from the vehicle. The accident left him with a back that was broken in two places, internal bleeding, and a collapsed lung. Needless to say, our client needed extensive medical attention. After a significant amount of treatment, our client was starting to feel considerably normal. It was then that our Senior Claims Paralegal, Amy Greenwood, was able to settle this claim by obtaining the defendants policy limit. Our client was more than appreciative for the work and time that Amy and Portner & Shure had put into his case.

Employee Spotlight January 2018

Destiny Moore, works in the Columbia Maryland office. She has been with Portner & Shure since September 2017. Born in Chicago; raised in Maryland since the age of 3. She has 8 years of customer service experience so she is great with our clients at the front desk. Along with helping to operate the front desk efficiently, she is a paralegal assistant for Ms. Rachel Dawes. Outside of work she loves to do photoshoots, hang out with friends, travel, and exercise.

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|Sharing the Road with Bicyclists

Many agree that biking is good exercise, but the majority of motorists believe that cyclists should have their own lanes and stay off the roads that were designed for automobile traffic.  

Cyclists are not permitted on roads where the posted speed limit is greater than 50 mph, but are permitted on the shoulder of the road.  This still becomes a problem when there is debris, glass, uneven pavement, culverts, etc., that prevent the cyclist from riding on the shoulder and entering back into the path of the motorist.

Motorists and cyclists both need to be aware of the laws and regulations in their states.  In Maryland, when passing a cyclist, you must allow three feet from the side of your vehicle and return to your lane when you can clearly see the cyclist in your rear view mirror.  A motorist should not use his horn to alert the cyclist as this could in turn alarm them.  Cyclists should stay as close to the right side of the road to maintain safety.  They are required to use turn lanes and motorists should not attempt to make right turns across the path of the cyclist.  

Maryland law requires that cyclists must:

    •    Wear a bicycle helmet if they are under 16 years old
    •    Obey all traffic signs, signals and other traffic devices    
    •    Ride in the same direction as motor vehicles and as near to the right side of the road as possible
    •    Use standard arm signals to alert other drivers of lane changes and turns
    •    Stop for school buses when they are loading or unloading children
    •    Yield to pedestrians
    •    Refrain from wearing a headset that covers both ears

Further, a bicycle must be equipped with front and rear lamps and reflectors if the bicycle is used on a public road at any time when there is insufficient light or inclement weather.  It should also be equipped with a bell or horn and brakes.

 

 

Maryland Car Personal Injury Attorney, Jonathan Portner, Now Offers Free Case Recovery Evaluation

Jonathan Portner, a partner at Portner & Shure, and a member of the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Million Dollar Advocates Forum is now sharing his experience and giving back to the Maryland community by providing free case evaluations in car accident cases. Read more...

 

Passenger in An Automobile Accident: Who Pays for Your Damages?

Four vehicle crash kills man on Ordance Road in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. On December 9, 2010, William Gruber was travelling East on Ordance Road in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, when he slammed into the rear of a Monte Carlo causing a multi-vehicle chain reaction. Mr. Gruber's vehicle then spun out of control and across the roadway into the westbound traffic striking another vehicle. Mr. Gruber was pinned in his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by county firefighters. Preliminary investigation indicates that Gruber may have been under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. Gruber's passenger, Donte Edward Taylor suffered serious injuries and was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he remains in serious condition. The State Highway Administration reports that this is the second fatal crash on that stretch of road in less than two years. While traffic can be heavy through that area it depends on the time of day. Lt. John McAndrew, an officer with the county olice department's traffic division said Ordance Road isn't a particularly dangerous road.

In the event that you are a passenger in a vehicle that is at fault for a collision, it is important to understand what rights may exist. Passengers in vehicles that are involved in car accidents can generally obtain a recovery from one of the vehicles involved. At times, this places the passenger in the uncomfortable situation of suing his own friend or relative, who was driving, for personal injuries. In most personal injury cases, this means going against that persons insurance carrier, not them personally. The distinction means that the passenger's bodily injury claim does not usually affect their friends or family members assets. It is important to understand that because the passenger may have a claim against the driver of the car he was in, he needs to be represented in all instances by a different attorney. At this time the police are still investigating the above motor vehicle accident. Once their investigation is complete, the State Highway Administration will conduct their own investigation into the crash. In the meantime, the passenger should obtain his own attorney, one different from the drivers.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been involved in a car accident or you were a passenger in a motor vehicle involved in an automobile accident or would like more information on automobile accidents, please visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com, our Maryland car accident lawyers can provide a free legal consultation.