What Clients are Saying November 2018

My case was handled by Attorney Jonathan Portner and his staff, Grace. They provided personal attention and prompt responses throughout the whole process. They were professional and knowledgeable. I was pleased with the outcome. I would highly recommend the attorneys of Portner and Shure, and Grace.

This case was handled our Paralegal, Mrs. Grace Chung, out of our Columbia, MD office.

Litigation News November 2018

In October of last year one of our clients was involved in a rear end accident while yielding for an oncoming vehicle. The person behind him failed to pay proper time and attention to the ahead traffic conditions, leaving him with a sore neck and back. Although the property damage to his vehicle was not extensive, he still sustained injuries as people often do after their bodies have been unexpectedly jolted. Although the liable insurance carrier accepted responsibility for the accident and was willing to pay for the damage done to his vehicle, they were not willing to accept liability for the injuries sustained. Therefore, once our client was through with treatment, his case was transferred to our litigation department and he was prepped for court. After our attorney, Ms. Theresa Teixeira, presented the case to Prince George’s County District Court, she received a verdict of nearly $12,000.00 plus court costs. Our client was very pleased with his final result and was thankful he had Portner & Shure as an advocate.

Recent Case Results November 2018

In early March of this year, one of our clients was involved in a very serious accident involving another vehicle and a snowplow. She sustained intensive injuries, but luckily she was alive. Due to the severity of her injuries, she received consecutive medical treatment for almost four months and accrued about $45k in medical expenses. Once she was feeling well enough again, and her doctors agreed she was okay to be cleared from treatment, it was time to have her case evaluated for settlement. Our Sr. Claims Paralegal, Mrs. Christine Airey, was able to obtain policy limits of $100k for our client’s recovery. Although this accident was the scariest experience of her life, our client was happy she had Portner & Shure to guide her through it.

Choosing a Law Firm with Litigation Experience is Very Important

When you are injured in an accident in Towson, it is important to hire a law firm to represent you and fight for the compensation you deserve. When searching for a law firm that handles accident cases, it is important to hire a firm with litigation experience. You may think that a car accident case is very straightforward and will easily settle, but that is not always the case. Yes, it is true that a majority of accident cases do settle without ever having to go to court. However, there are still many cases that cannot settle and it is necessary to go to court. What happens if the law firm you hire does not go to court or has no experience in the courtroom?

Make sure you hire a law firm with an extensive litigation department and immense resources to be able to battle the insurance company all the way to court in order to get the compensation you deserve.

Portner & Shure attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience in the courtroom litigating accident cases. If your case does not settle, we never hesitate to file suit in court. It is important that you hire a firm with the ability to handle your case no matter what happens--settle or litigate in court.

If you've been injured in an accident in the Towson area, choose your law firm wisely. Portner & Shure attorneys are available now for a free consultation. Call us today: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Litigation News April 2017

On March 6, 2015, our client was involved in a rear-end accident when she was stopped at a red light in Montgomery County, Maryland. She suffered injuries to her neck, back, and legs. An offer of $4,300.00 was made to settle the case, but this was less than half the total of our client’s medical bills. Our client rejected this offer and we filed suit to handle this matter in court. The District Court Judge awarded our client $14,758.40 plus all court costs. Here, the insurance company refused to make a good-faith offer of settlement, and as a result, they lost in Court and were required to compensate our client more than $10,000.00 more than their highest offer. Our client was very happy with this result in her case.

Injured by an Emergency Vehicle in Maryland?

Here's something you probably have never thought of: what happens if you're injured in an accident caused by a speeding emergency vehicle?

We see police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances speeding by us everyday on the roadways. In Maryland, operators of emergency vehicles have certain privileges when it comes to traffic laws, but that does not mean that they are completely immune from liability if they negligently cause an accident.

Accidents involving emergency vehicles do happen, and in some circumstances, the emergency vehicle can be held liable. Maryland traffic laws allow emergency vehicles to run red lights and pass stop signs as long as they first slowed down to ensure they could pass safely. These vehicles are also allowed to exceed the speed limit as long as it is possible to do safely.

Ordinary negligence of emergency vehicles operated by a government entity can only result in, at most, $30,000 in insurance coverage. However, if you can prove gross negligence on the part of the emergency vehicle, Maryland law caps damages at $400,000.

If you've been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of an emergency vehicle, call the attorneys at Portner & Shure for a free consultation today: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Injured in an Auto Accident? Don't Miss Your Chance to File a Claim

Every state has a time limit or statute of limitations that prevents someone from being able to file a claim after a certain period of time has passed. In Maryland, there is a 3 year statute of limitations for auto accident claims, and the clock starts ticking from the date of the accident. There is also a 1 year time limit for being able to file a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim. PIP claims are important because that money can be used to pay for some, if not all, of your medical bills. That means that, when a settlement is reached or a verdict in court is awarded, that money can be given to you (after attorneys' fees are distributed). In other words, your settlement money will not have to be used to pay back medical bills because PIP already paid them.

Sometimes we have people who will call our office and tell us they were injured in an auto accident, they have been treating their injuries, and now they are ready to file a claim to collect compensation. Then, they will tell us that their accident happened 5 years ago. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done because they are well past the 3 year statute of limitations period in Maryland to be able to file a claim.

We always recommend to anyone calling our office for car accident injury consultations that it is very important to hire an attorney soon after an accident has occurred. We always want our clients to have plenty of time to file the necessary claims that can help maximize their compensation.

If you've been injured in an auto accident in Maryland, seek medical attention for your injuries and hire an attorney to represent you. Don't miss out on your chance to be compensated for injures suffered in a car accident. Call us today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Insurance Companies Cannot Raise your Rates for Filing a Claim for an Accident that Was NOT Your Fault

When you are involved in an accident, one of your first worries is how much your insurance rates will increase. Many accident victims are also afraid to file a claim against the other driver because they think that their insurance rates will go up.

If you are involved in an accident and you are NOT at fault, Maryland law prohibits any insurance company from increasing your rates if you decide to file a personal injury claim. If you are injured in an accident, you should not let fears of higher insurance premiums deter you from filing a claim to get compensation you deserve for your injuries. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by filing an accident claim when your are the victim in a car accident and not at fault in any way for the crash.

When you are injured in an auto accident in Maryland due to another driver's negligence, you are entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered and the resulting treatment for those injuries. You should hire an experienced car accident attorney in Maryland to handle your case and fight for the compensation you deserve. Car accident cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, so in other words, you only have to pay your attorney a fee if they win your case.

So if you have been injured in a car accident in Maryland and the other driver is at fault for that accident, call Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

What Can I Expect if My Accident Case Does Not Settle and We Go to Court?

Although about 95% of all auto accident cases settle before litigation arises, sometimes court is necessary in order to obtain the compensation the client is entitled. There are many different reasons why a car accident case does not settle, including a liability dispute, minimal property damage, and factual disputes. When an insurance company refuses to make a settlement offer or makes a low settlement offer, a lawsuit is necessary in order to get compensation for the client. In many cases where suit is filed, a settlement is still achieved because insurance adjusters will then make a settlement offer in order to avoid litigation. These last minute offers of settlement can be made as late as the morning of trial. Sometimes, however, an insurance adjuster will hold firm and a trial is unavoidable.

If your case is one of those that does not settle and does go to trial, you have nothing to worry about. The process is not as scary as it sounds because our experienced team of attorneys will adequately prepare you well in advance of trial. Your attorney will go over how the process will work depending on which court your case will be heard. Your attorney will also run through the facts of the case with you and will discuss with you weaknesses in your case (if any). When your trial date arrives, you will feel completely prepared and will know exactly what to expect when you step into the courtroom.

If you've been injured in an auto accident in Maryland, make sure you call a law firm with experienced attorneys who are never afraid to go to court to fight for the compensation you deserve. Not all cases settle and you should hire a firm that can handle your case in settlement or in trial. Call Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000; (410) 995-1515.

Maryland Auto Accident Lawyers: Case Result May 2016

              Recently, Portner & Shure settled a rear-end accident case in Prince George’s County, Maryland for $100,000.  Two years ago, our client was rear-ended on I-495 near the Virginia state line.  As a result, she sustained numerous injuries, the most severe of which being her shoulder, which was torn in the accident.  Our client required two surgeries in order to repair it, as well as physical therapy.  After lengthy settlement negotiations with the insurance adjuster, Mr. Portner and our paralegal, Amy Patton, managed to settle the case for $100,000.  Our client was extremely pleased with the result in her case.