Construction Zones Cause a Significant Amount of Accidents--Here's Why

Construction zones are often seen throughout the Maryland area. If you have driven on I-95 or I-695 you likely have seen these construction zones. Although construction zones are a sign of good things to come, including safer roadways, wider lanes, and smooth pavement, these work areas also have negative consequences.

With construction zones come new traffic patterns and lane closures. That means that many drivers will be unfamiliar with any lane shifts or changes in speed limits. When you combine new traffic patterns, lane closures, and reduced speed limits, accidents often result. Some drivers will slam on their brakes as they approach a work zone, for fear of speed camera ticket, but this sudden stop often causes a chain reaction of sudden stops, and "BANG," someone is rear-ended. Other drivers approach work zones a bit differently, and instead, drive aggressively, weaving in and out of solid lane markings. This too causes many auto accidents. Finally, construction zones add to the already heavily congested rush hour traffic, and the stop-and-go nature of this traffic, combined with new traffic patterns, often results in rear-end accidents.

Drivers should always remember to approach work zones with caution, but also, drivers should not panic and make drastic moves. Construction zones can be a nightmare for a drivers, and that nightmare can be made worse with an accident.

If you've been injured in an accident in a construction zone in Maryland, call the experienced attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Memorial Day Weekend Car Accidents on the Eastern Shore--Why a Local Law Firm is Important

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday weekend, drivers that are headed to the beaches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland should remember to pay extra attention on the roads as traffic congestion is sure to be a problem. Distractions in the car, such as cell phones, should never be used, especially when driving in heavy holiday weekend traffic.

Those traveling to the Eastern Shore for the holiday weekend are more likely to be driving than taking any other mode of transportation. For that reason, traffic congestion will be a problem, as it is every year. As many of us know, the drive to the beaches includes long stretches of single lane roads in rural areas. Some of the worst accidents have occurred on these roads, especially head-on collisions. When an accident occurs and the occupants are injured, you may not know what to do because you may feel like you are in the middle nowhere. You should always call the police after an accident, especially when there are injuries. The next step will involve emergency medical treatment, as well as contacting a law firm.

There are numerous law firms to choose from for an accident case in Maryland, but there are many advantages to choosing a local firm that is in the area on the Eastern Shore where the accident happened. The local knowledge of the lawyers, including information about judges, opposing counsel, and the roads can give you a big advantage when it comes to negotiating a settlement or trying your case in court. A firm that says that they can represent someone on the Eastern Shore, but yet does not have an office or any connections to that area is doing a disservice to their client. In order to maximize compensation, your attorney will need every advantage they can get.

If you suffer injuries in an Eastern Shore accident this Memorial Day Weekend, call the local Eastern Shore attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

What Clients Are Saying April 2017

“I have never written a review for a person or business before today; however, this review is 100% warranted and so here we go. I have had the pleasure and honor bestowed upon me to have met and work with Ms. Rebecca Dean. To simply say that Ms. Rebecca Dean is AMAZING would be an understatement and a disservice to her. Ms. Rebecca Dean is the epitome of what a true professional is. Ms. Rebecca Dean's patience and time she takes to explain every step along the way and to respond to any questions is ADMIRABLE and her work ethic and perseverance to always perform to the highest standard and do what is in the best interest of the client is INSPIRATIONAL. Ms. Rebecca Dean is a true asset to not only Portner & Shure but to their clientele as well. If you are fortunate enough to be assigned to Ms. Rebecca Dean, just know one thing: you ARE in good hands!!”

This case was handled by our Paralegal, Rebecca Dean, who works out of our Columbia, MD Office.

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.

Did the Insurance Company Rush You Into a Settlement? You May Be Able to Void it!

Did you or a loved one agree to settle a personal injury case without the advice of an attorney only to realize that the insurance company gave you a bad deal? Or did you discover that your injuries are more severe than you had originally thought and the settlement isn't enough to cover your medical bills?

Unfortunately, car accident victims are faced with these dilemmas nearly everyday. Insurance companies love to try and settle out a claim as quickly as possible and will do so by paying as little as possible to the injured accident victim. Anyone faced with these problems would most likely believe that they are out of luck and have no turning back after accepting a settlement soon after an accident. Most law firms will likely reject your case because you have already signed a release form.

In Maryland, there is a law in place that does offer protection to injured accident victims if they are rushed into settling with an insurance company and quickly asked to sign a release. In most cases, a signed settlement with release is enforceable and cannot be voided. However, there are situations where you may be able to void a signed settlement. If you were offered a settlement and signed a release within 30 days of an accident without ever contacting an attorney, Maryland law gives you 60 days to rescind your agreement and void the settlement. This would allow you to hire representation  in order to obtain compensation that truly covers your medical bills and pain and suffering.

If you were injured in an accident in Maryland and an insurance company rushed you into a settlement that you do not believe is fair, call Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

What Happens if the Liability Insurance Company Refuses to Make a Settlement Offer?

Not all car accidents are created equal. Some accidents result in minimal property damage to your car. The important thing to remember is that injuries suffered by drivers or occupants of a vehicle do not always correspond to the vehicle damage. Some accident victims suffer serious injuries in accidents where there is very little property damage. And sometimes accident victims suffer minimal injuries when there is significant property damage.

Over the years, many insurance companies have implemented policies where they will deny liability or refuse to make an offer of settlement in cases where there is minimal property damage. In other words, insurance companies seem to believe that in accidents with very little property damage, it it impossible for someone to suffer significant injuries. This can be very frustrating to work with because property damage does not always correlate to injuries. Unfortunately, in these types of cases, it does take a bit longer to resolve the case because, ultimately, suit must be filed in order to get an offer of settlement from the insurance company. We are never afraid to file suit and battle the insurance carrier in court. If you choose us as your attorneys, it will not matter that there was minimal property damage because as long as you have documented injuries related to the accident, it is very difficult for the insurance company to make a counterargument.

If you've been injured in an accident with low property damage, contact us today for a free consultation and rest assured that we will fight for the compensation you deserve. (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Recent Case Result January 2017

Earlier this month, our litigation team earned a big win against Allstate for an accident case in Montgomery County, Maryland. Our client was driving straight in the right lane and the defendant was driving in the left lane. The defendant quickly decided to speed up and make a right turn in front of our client’s vehicle, causing a collision. Our client suffered significant injuries and missed several weeks of work as a result of the accident. Allstate made a single offer of $10,000.00 in the case, but refused to negotiate. We filed suit and the court awarded our client nearly $30,000.00. Our client was extremely happy with this result.

Harford County Executive Candidate dies in Bel Air Accident

Churchville businessman and candidate for Harford County executive, Stephen M. Wright, died in a car accident on Thursday, May 20, 2010, just before 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Wright was operating his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on Wheel Road, when his vehicle left the road and struck a utility pole.

A spokesperson for the police advised that witnesses who checked on him immediately following the accident believe he was experiencing medical issues, which may have been the cause of the accident.. The police do not believe speed or alcohol contributed to the accident.  Instead, the report indicated that Mr. Wright may have experienced a medical emergency.

Paramedics from the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company transported Mr. Wright  to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at the hospital around 8 p.m.

Mr. Wright was a longtime member of the Harford County Republican Central Committee and a conservative with ties to the Tea Party movement and was the first candidate to file in this year's county executive race.

Mr. Wright is survived by his wife, Krista and their three daughters, Meagan, McKenzie and Katie.

If it is determined that a medical emergency was the cause of this accident, Mr. Wright's family may be entitled to certain death benefits also referred to as survivor benefits, which could include accidental death benefits, continuation of lost earnings, periodic "pension" payments and replacement services payments.  In some states, reasonable funeral expenses are protected benefits and have to be paid even when the insurance policy's other benefits , such as medical expenses  have been paid to the policy limits.

In the unfortunate event that Mr. Wright had collided with another vehicle and it was determined that he was experiencing a medical emergency, the other party would be barred from making a claim against his insurance company for their injuries, based on the sudden emergency defense.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been involved in an accident involving an emergency situation or you need more information on this type of motor vehicle accident, please contact Portner & Shure and speak with one of our experienced Maryland accident lawyers for a free consultation. 

Hazardous Road Conditions in Harford County Contribute to Accident.

The first of the major snow storms to hit Maryland had just started to fall on Friday, February 5, 2010, when a 2002 Chevrolet Ventura being operated by Carrie Ann Brown drifted to the right and struck a 1987 Mack dump truck. The dump truck, which was under contract with the Maryland State Highway Administration and being operated by Robert Singleton, Jr. of Forest Hill, was parked on the shoulder of the road on standby for the pending snow storm. The accident occurred on Paradise Road in Aberdeen near the I-95 overpass.

The driver of the Chevrolet and her 15 year old daughter were both taken to Bayview Hospital in Baltimore City in serious condition. Brown's two other children were also transported to nearby medical facilities for less serious injuries. Hazardous road conditions were believed to be the cause of the accident.

As the record snow fall for Maryland continues to grow, so does hazardous and icy road conditions that are the cause of the growing number of accidents over the last couple of weeks. In situations when an accident is due to poor road and/or weather conditions it can be hard to prove negligence, unless the person who caused the accident was not driving in accordance with the proper precaution for the poor weather conditions. What constitutes proper precaution is normally common sense. It is important to seek the advice of an attorney to assist you with accidents that occur in hazardous weather conditions, since different rules do apply.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident that was the result of icy or snow covered roads or any other weather or poor road conditions you can contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Do Not Talk to Insurance Companies Without Seeking Advice of an Attorney First

February 1, 2009, at approximately 12:30 p.m. a Montgomery County high school student was killed when the driver of the vehicle he was in lost control of the car on Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. The 17 year old passenger, Thiago Andrade of Rockville was thrown from the 2003 Toyota Camry and pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger in the vehicle was critically injured. The driver was trapped behind the wheel of the vehicle until an emergency crew arrived on the scene.

While Montgomery County police are still investigating the accident that had Veirs Mill Road closed for several hours it is alleged that the driver was speeding. Witnesses saw the car traveling eastbound on Veirs Mill Road and just before it reached Robindale Drive the car went down a grassy embankment and hit a tree, causing the car to split in half. Both sections of the vehicle continued in different directions down the hill, landing in the Rock Creek apartment complex, damaging one other vehicle.

The passengers in this vehicle, and/or their family have the right to make a claim for their bodily injuries or wrongful death against the driver's insurance. Depending on the driver's policy and their own household coverage, they may have the right to other benefits and should seek the advice of an attorney to ensure full compensation for said injuries or wrongful death benefits. Under no circumstances should they speak to the insurance carrier before consulting an attorney. Even passengers can jeopardize their rights by talking to an insurance adjuster. For example, if the driver of the vehicle was drinking and the passengers know this, their claim could arguably be barred by the doctrine of "assumption of risk."

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been injured in a car accident or you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Minor Accident in Prince George's County Becomes Fatality

A minor car accident for two men ends in tragedy in Prince George's County, Maryland. The accident occurred in Adelphi on February 1, 2010, at the intersection of Riggs Road and Forest Dale Drive. The men had pulled their respective vehicles onto the shoulder of Riggs Road to exchange insurance information. While exchanging information, a third car being driven by a Beltsville woman struck both men and their parked vehicles. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman driving the 2005 Cadillac SUV was arrested at the scene and it is believed that she will be charged with vehicular manslaughter. Sources close to the investigation confirm alcohol was a major factor in this tragic accident.

This was a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided. The families of these victims are entitled to recover for their losses. They have the right to make a claim against the drunk driver's insurance for wrongful death, in addition to personal injury protection benefits from that driver's policy since they were not in their vehicles at the time of the accident. There might also be death benefits available to them. It is important to have an attorney who is familiar with tort claims and will aggressively pursue all available benefits for the family of the deceased. Portner & Shure has handled hundreds of claims of this magnitude with excellent results.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been injured or died in a motor vehicle accident wherein alcohol was involved or you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Negligent Driving Causes Death Of High School Student In Howard County

In November 2009 there was a tragic single vehicle accident that claimed the life of a popular River Hill High School football player in Howard County, Maryland. The driver of the vehicle, a good friend of the passenger, lost control of his pick up truck, and struck three decorative pillars before overturning. Steven Dankos was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver and additional passenger sustained injuries as well. The driver of the vehicle, David Erdman, was charged with driving under the influence, manslaughter by motor vehicle, and homicide by motor vehicle.

Drunk driving is one of the most preventable forms of negligent driving but yet there are thousands of people killed every year because of a drunk driver. Drinking causes reflexes and senses to become impaired, teenagers seem to be less aware of this fact. Statistics through the country show that accident involving drunken drivers occur far more frequently with teenagers then any other age group. To make matters worse, while the families are all left with a terrible loss, and may have no interest in criminal charges, it is not their choice. The Howard County Police will review the incident and will proceed with charges regardless.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence of another party or you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Major Verdict Rendered in Prince George's County Car Accident Case

A Prince George's County jury has awarded a $4.1 million verdict to the estate and family of a 20 year old male killed in a December 2007 accident.

Plaintiff David Gray was driving to the University of Maryland to attend classes when his vehicle was struck by a police cruiser.  The police cruiser had crossed a double yellow line and collided with the Plaintiff's vehicle, causing the vehicle to be sent airborne across the street.  Paramedics quickly arrived to the scene and transferred the Plaintiff to the Prince George's County Hospital Center, where he subsequently died from injuries sustained in the accident.   

The Plaintiff's mother filed suit on her son's behalf against the Defendant, an off-duty police officer with the Prince George's County Police Department.  In asserting that the Defendant negligently operated his vehicle, the Plaintiff's estate alleged that the Defendant was driving at twice the 25 mile per hour speed limit, that the Defendant was text messaging while driving his vehicle, and that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol he had consumed the night before.  The jury agreed with the Plaintiff's assertions, and awarded a total verdict of $4.1 million dollars.  Of the $4.1 million awarded, $3.6 million went to the estate of the deceased, $500,000 to the Plaintiff's mother for pain and suffering, $35,000 for past medical expenses and $5,000 for funeral expenses. 

There are a few key points worthy of mention in this case.  It is very curious that the fact that the Defendant had been drinking the night before was not discovered until he was deposed during the civil case.  The Defendant apparently was not asked by his fellow Prince George's County officers arriving on the scene whether he had consumed alcohol the previous evening.  According to the deposition, the Defendant stated that he had drank 3 to 5 Corona's the night before the accident prior to going to sleep at 3 a.m.  The accident occurred just 4 hours after he had gone to sleep, making it entirely possible that the Defendant was still under the influence at the time of the accident.  The Washington Post examined the alcohol consumption issue in this case in greater detail. 

Another interesting point is that texting was used as a means to demonstrate negligent driving.  The Plaintiff's counsel in this case actually brought in an AT&T representative to testify that there was a data transfer from the Defendant's phone at the time of the accident.  I think that the use of texting to show negligent driving in car accident cases may be something we see more and more. 

If you have been in a car, truck or motorcycle accident and believe the person that struck you was at fault, you should contact an experienced attorney.  The attorneys at Portner & Shure many years of experience representing accident victims in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Contact us for a free consultation.