What Clients are Saying July 2018

Referred by a friend who used them before, called them a few days after my accident and they set up an appointment right away. Within that same day Christine was assigned to handle my case she called and got me a rental and therapy set up. Christine stayed in constant contact, even checked up on me and answered all my questions. This was my first accident and I was unaware of my rights and what to even do, I’m glad I was referred to them and everything was handled efficiently. I will definitely let family and friends know to use them.

This case was handled by our paralegal, Mrs. Christine Airey, out of our Columbia, MD office.

Maryland Personal Injury Attorneys | Airbag Recall

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or call 410-995-1515 to speak with an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney today for a Free Consultation.

Maryland, Virginia Personal Injury Attorney: Airbag recall Affects Millions of Cars

Millions of cars from almost a dozen auto makers are affected by a serious and dangerous recall due to defective airbags. Over five million Honda vehicles could have the issue, nearly one million Toyota vehicles, almost 700,000 Nissan vehicles, and more than 600,000 BMW vehicles are affected. A significant number of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru vehicles are all affected. Years for these vehicles range from 2000 to 2011 depending on the specific model. The reason for the recall is due to defective inflators made by Japanese parts supplier Tanaka that explode too strongly and send metal shrapnel through the bag into people. There have been more than 100 cases where this has occurred. Some say there have been four deaths and multiple injuries. However, the government is only reporting three injuries and is continuing to investigate. Federal regulators are urging owners of these affected vehicles to
"take immediate action." 2014 has been the worst year for auto recalls in U.S. history, with more than 1 in 5 cars and trucks at risk of defects.

If you have purchased a car that has recently been recalled, take it to the dealer to get fixed. Further, you may be entitled to several legal remedies, including:

Economic damages:　you may be able to recoup lost value of the car's resale value.　You may also be able to recover for loss of use of the car

Personal injury recovery:　if the defective automobile resulted in physical injuries to you, you may be able to recover for the costs associated with the injury

Class action: If the recall has affected enough numbers of consumers, a class action lawsuit might be an available option

Manufacturer reimbursement:　Some auto manufacturers may voluntarily pay repair bills the defective product caused before the recall.

Sometimes, however, you may need to initiate litigation to be compensated for your financial as well as your physical losses. From SUV rollovers to fuel fed fires and faulty door latches, there are a variety of vehicle safety defects that can lead to severe injuries in a car crash. At Portner & Shure, we have handled these cases for over twenty years. We have the experience and technical resources to analyze your auto accident case, answer your questions, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

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

Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyer | Top Court Decides

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or call to speak with one of our experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorneys at (301) 854-9000 for a free consultation.

Earlier this month, the Maryland Court of Appeals heard oral argumens in the Wicomico County case of Ginneene Williams v. Peninsula Regional Medical Center.  Maryland's highest court is "tasked with determining whether medical professionals are immune from liability if they decide not to admit a patient after an evaluation."

The basic facts of this case involve Ms. Williams taking her son to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in 2009 because of strange behavior.  The hospital released him, and he subsequently went to a restaurant where he continued to act strange.  Later, he broke into a home and Salisbury police shot Mr. Williams fifteen times after he charged at the officers with a knife and told them to shoot him.  The Wicomico County Circuit Court held that the wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family be dismissed.  The Court of Special Appeals upheld the Circuit Court's ruling.  This will be the first time the Court of Appeals interprets the statute in question.

During oral arguments, Court of Appeals Judge Sally D. Adkins posed the following question: "why legislation would provide doctors with immunity to admit patients but not for determining not to admit them?"  Judge Adkins followed that up by commenting, "[i]n that case...if doctors were to have any doubt, they would admit the patient."  It will certainly be interesting to see how the Court rules in this matter, and depending on how they rule, our future medical malpractice clients could be affected.

If you or a family member is the victim of an injury caused by medical malpractice in Maryland, an experienced attorney from Portner & Shure can help you get the compensation you are entitled.  If you would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on medical malpractice in Maryland, please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

Maryland Auto Accident Lawyer

Visit us at:  www.portnerandshure.com

or call to speak with one of our experienced Maryland auto accident attorneys at (301) 854-9000 for a free consultation.

Insure.com conducted a survey of 2,000 drivers in which Washington, D.C. recently placed second for rudest drivers in the United States.  In addition, Maryland was named as the state that hates Washington, D.C. drivers the most.

Furthermore, the DriverSide study ranked Washington, D.C. as number one in speeding tickets per capita.  Several D.C. residents claim that many drivers fail to signal when changing lanes and there is always someone driving behind you wanting to run you off the road.

These recent poll results raise concerns about Maryland drivers because there is a higher risk of becoming an accident victim.  Due to Maryland's close proximity to Washington, D.C., Maryland drivers have an increased risk of being a victim of reckless driving.  It is important for Maryland drivers to know what to do if they are a victim of an automobile accident.

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 (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

　

 

 

Korean Accident Lawyer Maryland

Visit us at www.koreanaccidentlaywer.com

or call us at (301) 854-9000 to speak with an experienced Korean car accident lawyer today for a free consultation.

3 Reasons Why Our Paralegals are some of the best

First, people often ask me if I'm upset that attorney Bob Katz hires my former employees. I know that currently three of my former staff members work for him. None of course quit to go there, and all left after being trained by Portner & Shure. I am not upset. Instead, I am proud that even our former employees are considered an asset to Bob Katz. In fact, one former Korean employee does his new case screening. Further, one of our former paralegals now services the Korean community for Mr. Katz.

Second, our paralegals are trained on a case management system known as Needles. Even Bob is aware of the training our employees are given on this system, and acknowledges that this system is the best way to manage personal injury cases.

Third, our current paralegals are trained on the colussus system. The colussus system is used by the insurance carriers to evaluate claims. Paralegals who understand how this system works understands how to value a case.

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 (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at www.koreanaccidentlawyer.com

Maryland Workers' Compensation Attorney

Maryland Workers' Compensation Attorney

Visit us at www.portnerandshure.com

Or call to speak with one of our experienced Maryland workers' compensation attorneys at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation.

Maryland Casino's & Your Workers' Compensation Coverage

With the recent opening of the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore, the gambling industry is quickly becoming one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. The new MGM Casino is set to open in 2016 in Prince George's County, and will join Maryland's existing casinos, including Maryland Live and the Casino at Ocean Downs, in an industry that is booming and looking for workers.

It takes an unbelievable amount of workers to keep large scale casinos operating. A casino needs dealers, security, cleaning staff, valets, cashiers, chefs, servers, cocktail waitresses, bartenders, emergency medical staff, groundskeepers, maintenance, you name it! Not to mention, management and human resources staff. With such a high volume of workers, some injuries on the job are inevitable. Consider security staff, who risk injury when dealing with fights and unruly patrons, or the variety of ways kitchen staff or maintenance workers could injure themselves on the job.

Most of the time, injuries on the job occur in one identifiable accident and the worker has no problem reporting the injury and obtaining benefits through workers compensation. A more complicated situation arises when the injury is actually an occupational disease that manifests over time.

For example, one of the toughest positions for a casino to fill is its dealers. These workers are must be highly skilled and are in high demand. Dealing cards may seem like a job with little risk of injury, until you consider the repetitive hand and wrist movements involved, which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, a common occupational disease. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a debilitating condition, causing numbness, pain, and tingling in the wrists and hands. It can also affect grip and manual dexterity. If you deal cards for a living, this condition could affect your ability to work significantly. It may also require medical treatment, such as physical therapy or even surgery.

Fortunately, carpal tunnel and other occupational diseases are compensable through workers compensation - but you must be careful to give timely notice to your employer, or else your claim could be denied. Notify your employer as soon as you notice any symptoms whatsoever, such as tingling in the wrists. Don't wait six months until you are no longer able to use your hands at all before you tell someone. If it's bothering you, tell your employer and get checked out by a doctor. If you are unsure what to do, call an attorney who can navigate the process for you, obtain benefits, and even get you set up with a doctor to get you the treatment you need.

If you are working for one of Maryland's casinos, be sure to check your contract to see if it classifies you as an employee or an independent contractor. If your contract classifies the casino as a client, and you as an independent contractor, it may also state that the casino is not required to carry workers compensation coverage for you. Always be aware of the contents of your contract so that you can take the steps you need to protect your health.

If you or a family member has been injured as a result of an accidental injury on the job and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on work accidents,  please feel free to contact our office at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com

　

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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

　

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

Silver Spring, Maryland Auto Accident Attorney|Who is responsible for my auto accident?

After an auto accident, many of our clients are scared and confused by the overwhelming legal process. Clients come to us with worries of their case that arise from every angle. We always tell our clients that the most important step is recovery and treatment. Any stress or anxiousness with regard to their case can only hinder their ability to recover. The attorneys at Portner & Shure make sure that clients focus on their treatment while we, the professionals, take care to pursue every avenue for compensation.

 

While most attorneys rarely look beyond the obvious opponent, the other party to the accident, the attorneys at Portner & Shure take a closer look at accidents to ensure that every party is held responsible for the accident. Besides the other driver, we look to parties such as the automobile manufacturer who may have produced or assembled a faulty vehicle, the parts manufacturer who may have produced a faulty part used in the vehicle, and the government who may have failed to maintain or may have constructed a poorly designed road.

 

Recently, General Motors recalled 8.5 million vehicles due to ignition switch problems. These recalls came too late after 13 drivers and passengers had died due to these issues. Now, the CEO of the manufacturing company that produced the ignition switches claims that he holds no responsibility for the deaths. It is easy for auto accident attorneys to provide a cursory look and choose the easiest way to process your case in an assembly-line manner, but the attorneys at Portner & Shure take the extra step to closely examine all avenues of compensation so that you, the client, can recover from your injuries. 

Laurel, Maryland Personal Injury Attorney | Woman Falls Through Floor Board in SE D.C. Apartment

District of Columbia Fire and EMS crews were called to the apartment building in the 2300 block of 24th Street SE around 9 a.m. Wednesday after a woman fell through a loose floor board. The woman has been transported to an area hospital in serious condition.

Under Maryland law, if a landlord fails to repair serious or dangerous defects in a rental unit, you have the right to pay your rent into an escrow account established at the local district court. The escrow account can only be set up by the court.

The law is very specific about the conditions under which rent may be placed in escrow. Rent escrow is not provided for defects that just make the apartment or home less attractive or comfortable, such as small cracks in the floors, walls or ceiling.

You must give the landlord proper notice and adequate time to make the repairs before you have the right to place rent in escrow. In order to withhold rent for conditions that constitute a threat to life, health or safety you must notify the landlord by providing actual notice or by certified mail, or the landlord must receive notice of the violations from an appropriate government agency such as the local housing department.

The landlord then has a reasonable amount of time after receipt of the notice in which to correct the conditions. If the landlord fails to do this, you may go to court to file a rent escrow action asking to pay the rent to the court.

The serious or dangerous conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Lack of heat, light, electricity or water, unless you are responsible for the utilities and the utilities were shut off because you didn't pay the bill.


• Lack of adequate sewage disposal; rodent infestation in two or more units.


• Lead paint hazards that the landlord has failed to reduce.


• The existence of any structural defect that presents a serious threat to your physical safety.


• The existence of any condition that presents a serious fire or health hazard.

Besides rent escrow, a tenant can report the landlord to local authorities. Under a law that was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 1986, every county in the state must adopt a housing code that meets minimum statewide standards. Some counties and Baltimore City already have comprehensive housing and building codes that are enforced by local authorities. The local authorities will investigate your complaints and, if the landlord is cited for violations, repairs will have to be made.

Maryland Auto Accident Attorney| Difference Between State and Federal Law

Many of our clients ask us to explain the distinction between Federal laws and state laws. State laws only apply to those who are within that state. Local laws are for counties, towns, and municipalities. This is different from Federal laws, which apply to everyone within the United States. Federal and state laws are separated by the areas of law in which they cover.

Federal laws include:

• Immigration Law


• Bankruptcy Law


• Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Laws


• Civil Rights Laws (Laws that protect against discrimination based on race, age, gender, and disability)


• Patent and Copyright Laws


• Federal Criminal Laws (This includes laws such as tax evasion, kidnapping, counterfeiting, immigration offenses, and certain drug-related offenses)

State laws include:

• Criminal Matters


• Divorce and Family Law


• Welfare and Public Assistance


• Wills and Estates Law


• Real Estate and Real Property Law


• Business Law


• Personal Injury and Negligence Law


• Workers' Compensation Law

Local Laws include:

• Rent Laws


• Zoning Laws


• Local Safety Laws

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|Distracted Drivers to Face Harsher Penalties

Just last week, Governor Martin O'Malley signed the bill for Jake's Law into the books. The law is named after Jake Owen, a 5-year-old boy from South Baltimore who died after a distracted driver crashed into his family's vehicle in 2011. The law creates harsher penalties and jail time for drivers that cause serious or fatal car accidents while talking or texting on their cell phones. The idea behind the law is to make distracted driving similar to drunk driving. The Owen family was shattered when Jake was killed, but when the distracted driver was only fined $1,000 as a result of the crash, they were livid. At the time of the trial, many jury members did not consider talking or texting on the phone while driving to be reckless behavior. Now, a judge may impose a jail sentence up to one year and a $5,000 fine if a driver causes a serious or fatal accident while texting or talking on the phone. It is essential for all drivers to be careful while driving and to know, now more than ever, to put down the phone.

Maryland Dog Bite Attorney|Pit Bulls are No Longer "Inherently Dangerous"

The two-year fight is finally over. Animal advocates sighed with relief when Governor Martin O'Malley negated the 2012 Court of Appeals ruling that found pit bulls to be inherently dangerous, and that they should be held to a strict liability standard.  This ruling infuriated dog lovers across the state and sparked a heated debate for two years. The court decision also opened the door for dog bite victims to sue landlords for injuries, causing difficulties for tenants who owned pit bulls. Many pit bull-owning tenants faced the hard decision between their homes and their pets.

The new legislation now applies the same legal standard to all dog breeds. The owner has the burden of proof to show that there was no previous reason to believe that a dog was dangerous. This allows for dog bite victims to seek the justice they deserve without singling out pit bulls as an inherently dangerous breed. Furthermore, the new legislation makes it more difficult for dog bite victims to pursue lawsuits against the landlords. 

Maryland Personal Injury | Facebook and Twitter Can Hurt You as Much as Your Injury

After suffering from a serious personal injury due to the negligence of another in Maryland, most of our clients focus on getting better. In fact, in the past we would instruct clients that going to the doctor was all they needed to do, with the rise of social media this has now changed.

All Portner & Shure clients are now instructed that they need to be aware that the defendant's insurance company may be viewing their Facebook and Twitter posts. In fact, posts are now discoverable during the course of litigation. Discovery is permissible regardless of whether privacy settings have been set to allow limited access. All of our injury clients are specifically told, therefore that they should no longer post anything that could be considered relevant to their claims.

Once a post is made that could be viewed as harmful to any injury cases, your lawyer cannot ethically instruct you to delete the post. Be aware, in short, that social media posts that are inconsistent with your claim can actually destroy settlements.

Not long ago our injury firm only had to instruct clients in work injury cases or serious injury cases, that doing activities inconsistent with their claim could be caught on video tape. Despite my warnings, I did have several cases that I remember distinctly where a video tape of my clients activities was played at trial. Once, a client claiming a serious injury was found bowling. Another, a sympathetic nice Chinese speaking client, claimed she could not do any activities, yet was filmed raking leaves. Another, a man who claimed he could not raise his arms or lift anything, was filmed putting a rack on top of his car, and filling it with luggage and vacation items. Now, I fear defense attorneys can easily use documents revealing damaging statements, or pictures. from social media.

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|Contingency Fee

Most Maryland auto accident injury attorneys are paid through contingency fees. A contingency fee basically means that the client does not pay anything to the attorney unless there is a settlement with the insurance company or judgment from the court. When there is a settlement or judgment, a Maryland accident attorney is typically entitled to a percentage of that total settlement or judgment amount. When an injured person is considering hiring a Maryland accident injury lawyer, he or she should read the fee agreement very carefully. Before signing the fee agreement, be sure to check what percentage of the settlement the attorney is charging as a fee.

Some Maryland auto accident injury attorneys will charge fees that are too high. If the Maryland auto accident attorney's fee agreement includes a fee of more than 33% for a case that settles, that Maryland accident injury lawyer is a rip-off artist. Most Maryland accident injury cases settle and a fair Maryland auto accident attorney will charge a 33% fee.

Usually, a Maryland auto accident lawyer's fee agreement will have a different fee for a case that goes into litigation. When a case goes into litigation, that means that the case did not settle because of a disputed issue. Common issues insurance companies dispute are low property damage, liability, and reasonableness of medical treatment. A case that is put into litigation will be decided by a judge or jury. Litigation requires much more work including pleadings, discovery, trial preparation, travel, and trial. The additional work often increases the attorney fee to 40% of the total judgment. If your Maryland accident lawyer is charging you more than a 40% fee for a case in litigation, or more than a 33% fee for a case that settles, that attorney is ripping you off. The Maryland accident attorneys at Portner & Shure are both fair and experienced. If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident contact the Maryland accident attorneys at Portner & Shure.

Personal Injury Attorney Strengthens Korean Department to Serve Growing Community

Our amazing Korean Department has been featured in the press!

Maryland Medical Malpractice Attorney | Woman Wins $1.3 Million Jury Verdict

Last week, a Carroll County woman was awarded $1.3 million for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Her doctor left her with a permanent hernia and unable to eat normally after he used a surgical synthetic mesh to help close a hernia. The doctor had claimed that it was accepted practice to use the mesh for that purpose amongst surgeons.

When another surgeon attempted to remove the mesh months later, it caused a leak in her esophagus. While attempting surgery to correct the tear, it was found that there was too much mesh within her esophagus. It was claimed that the doctor had used the wrong type of mesh, used in the wrong way, without informed consent.

Today, the woman can now only eat slowly and in small amounts because of her condition. Furthermore, she has a ventral hernia, wears a special girdle, cannot lift more than five pounds, and cannot bend over. Her injuries have also strained her marriage as she relies on her husband to come home from work multiple times a day to care for her wounds and check her IV.

Maryland Personal Injury|Pre-Settlement Funding

Being involved in an accident can become a financial burden. There are unexpected daily expenses that arise as a result of being injured in an automobile accident. Many are inclined to take out pre-settlement loans to ease their financial burdens.

Be warned, there are many pit falls to pre-settlement loans. These are not like traditional loans that you would receive from your bank. The interest on pre-settlement loans is very high and increases the longer the loan goes unpaid. Typically, rates range from 2% to 4%, plus fees, compounded every single month. A $1,000.00 loan could cost you $1,601.03 after a year. That is a 60% increase.

Pre-Settlement funding companies woo clients with misdirection and word play. They tell clients that the loan is not a direct cost to them, but rather a cost against their final settlement. Any cost against the final settlement is a cost to the client. The money for repayment of that loan comes out of the client's portion of the settlement proceeds. The loans, like any lien on a case, must be paid before medical expenses. Depending on the age of the loan and the compounded interest, clients could find themselves receiving nothing out of their settlement. Further, clients could find themselves receiving nothing out of their settlement and still owing money for medical expenses.

It is true that if your case is not successful, you do not pay back the loan. However, success can come at a high cost.

We caution our clients against taking these loans unless absolutely necessary and only after they have exhausted all of their option such as seeking financial assistance from their families and friends or their private lending institution. If you find yourself in a position to take a pre-settlement loan, it is recommended that you take only a small amount of money, essentially take only what you absolutely need. Do not borrow yourself out of your own recovery.

Maryland Dog Bite Attorney|New Bill Seeks to Make All Dog Owners Liable For Bites

In 2012, the Court of Appeals made the controversial ruling that outraged dog lovers across the state: owners of pure bred pit bulls would be held strictly liable for all bites because pit bulls were deemed inherently dangerous. To top it off, landlords could be held liable as well. This court ruling caused many pit bulls to be put into shelters and many landlords to ban pit bulls from their property.

A new bill has been proposed to take another look at dog bites and liability. This bill would set a measure that applies to all dogs, no matter their breed, and would presume that all dog owners are liable for a dog bite, even if that dog has not bitten anyone before. In addition, the law would allow for owners to neutralize that presumption by showing that their dog had been docile before the bite occurred.

The previous breed-specific law caused uproar amongst dog lovers and made many disproportionately wary of pit bulls. This new proposed law holds all dog owners equally responsible for the actions of their dogs and is sure to gain favor in this respect, but some remain wary that the ability to neutralize the presumption would allow dog owners to escape responsibility entirely.  We will have to wait to see what a dog owner will actually have to show in order to prove that their dog was 'docile' before a fight. For the sake of dog bite victims, I hope that the standard is high.

Maryland Car Accident Attorney|Asleep at the Wheel

Most of us understand the risks of driving after a few drinks. We arrange for a designated driver or we take a taxi when we have had too much to drink. But few of us consider the risks of driving when we are tired. None of us have ever considered a designated driver because we are tired. Perhaps you should.

According to a study by AAA 41% of drivers have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. 1 in 10 of that 41% admitted that it occurred within the last year. That is a lot of sleepy drivers.

AAA found, through research, that people who hadn't slept for 20 hours had a 50% slower response and speed time than drivers who were well rested. The sleep deprived become impaired and their reaction, response and reflex time is the same or similar to a person with a .05 blood-alcohol content.

It is recommended, for your safety and the safety of others, that you recognize the signs of drowsiness. AAA suggests that you not ignore these signs - unable to hold your head up, unable to keep your eyes open, day-dreaming, drifting in and out of your lane, and tailgating.

If you are too tired to drive, such as on long road trips or after working a long shift, ask someone for a ride. Do not push on. You are just as impaired as someone who has had a few drinks. Use public transportation, if necessary. Take a bus on a train. You can even get a nap while you ride. Also, take medication labels seriously. When you see on the label, "do not operate heavy equipment" that does apply to motor vehicles. These tips can keep you and others on the road safe.

AAA recommends 6 hours of sleep before embarking on any long drives.