Inclement Weather Leads to More Car Accidents

As temperatures continue to drop, you need to keep in mind road and weather conditions while driving. Importantly, you must be aware of other drivers on the road, and alter your driving habits based on the conditions

We have all seen the drivers who turn on their hazards and practically crawl down the right lane during inclement weather. Contrarily, we have also all seen the driver who speeds and weaves in and out of traffic. Both of which are a major hazard.

Adverse weather contributes to 28% of all accidents and 20% of accident fatalities. The law states you have a duty to operate your vehicle differently based on the conditions. If the weather is bad, go slower, and keep a greater distance between you and other vehicles.

We at Portner & Shure wish you and your family a safe and warm Holiday Season.  

Recent Case Results September 2017

Recently, Portner & Shure settled a case where two of our clients were rear-ended, leaving them both in immense pain. In an effort to treat their injuries they presented themselves to a hospital and followed discharge instructions to be seen by a chiropractor to ease the rest of their pain. After following their doctor’s treatment plan they were discharged and left with medical bills equaling over $6,000.00 each. After extensive negotiations with the liable insurance company, it was clear they were not willing to offer the settlement amount our clients deserved. Before going to court we were given offers of $7,700.00 and $6,600.00 to settle our client’s claims. However, after going to court we received the verdict of $15,000.00 for one, and $10,586.00 for the other. Needless to say, our clients were very happy with their court award. 

Why You Shouldn't Accept Any Settlement for Your Auto Accident Case Without Consulting with an Attorney

When you've been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it's not at all uncommon for the other driver's insurance company to make you an offer very soon after the accident, and before you retain an attorney.  Frequently, the insurance company will offer an amount to pay medical bills you incur within a month of the accident plus a modest amount for your pain and suffering.  The offers generally range from $500 to $2,000.  In the first few days after the accident, the figure being offered may seem like a great deal, but accepting a settlement without consulting with an attorney first is simply a huge mistake for several reasons.

If you accept a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries and expenses, you will seriously short change yourself and may end up having to pay medical expenses out of your own pocket.  The insurance companies make these offers solely in hopes that they can get out of the case for much less than their actual exposure. 

An attorney can help you coordinate your treatment with medical providers that won't insist on payment up front.  This way you can afford to wait to settle until you know the true value of the case.  An attorney can also help you assess the value of your case to ensure that you are getting a fair settlement.  In almost every case, an attorney can get you a much bigger settlement than what you can get on your own, enough to cover any attorneys' fees and still put a good sum in your pocket.

If the insurance company is making you an early offer or seems overly eager to close your case and send you a check – just say no.  In all instances, this is a huge red flag and you should have an attorney review your case immediately.  

Silver Spring, Maryland Accident Injury Lawyer | I-495 Outer Loop Closed After Tractor-Trailer Hits Police Cruiser

A tractor-trailer accident involving two cars shut down the Interstate 495 outer loop between Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland Monday morning. All lanes of the Outer Loop of the Beltway were closed after Route 29 in Maryland because of the crash that led to a major fuel spill. All of the lanes reopened by about 7:10 a.m.

Just before 2 a.m., a Maryland state trooper and a car that was pulled over were swiped by an Old Dominion Freight Line truck, which then jack-knifed, spilling a large amount of fuel on the Beltway. Hazmat officials spent hours cleaning up the spilled fuel.

Police say no one was seriously injured in the crash.

Driving at night creates a different set of problems for drivers. Driving at night is more hazardous and difficult than daytime driving, making it more difficult to judge distance and the traveling speed of other vehicles. You can see only as far as your headlights allow. Risks increase at night due to visibility problems, which make it difficult to clearly see the path of travel and determine the actions of other drivers.

Below are some simple suggestions to follow when driving at night:
• make sure to use your headlights and follow the suggestions for when to use high beams;
• when approaching oncoming traffic in the opposite lane, do not stare into the vehicle's headlights, as this will impair your ability to see. Instead, keep your eyes focused on the road in front of you, or slightly to the right of the lane you are traveling in (i.e. the right edge of your lane or the edge of the road);
• increase your following distance. This will help prevent a collision in the event the vehicle in front of you needs to stop quickly.

Knowing when and how to use your headlights is critical for safe driving. Headlights are not only used by drivers to help them see in low visibility situations, they are also helpful in identifying your vehicle to oncoming traffic. In Maryland, when driving, you must turn on your headlights anytime there is not enough light to clearly see at least 1,000 feet ahead of your vehicle. Key times to use headlights are night time, foggy conditions and stormy weather. Maryland law requires that you turn on your headlights when you are using your windshield wipers in inclement weather.

Baltimore, Maryland Car Accident Attorney | The Baltimore City Police Department's No-Pursuit Policy

12-year-old Shanizya Taft was killed in a car crash on Tuesday night in east Baltimore on East Preston Street near Aisquith Street. The driver, a murder suspect in the shooting and killing of a 15-year-old boy on Memorial Day on S. Mount Street, ran a red light and slammed into a white minivan carrying Shanizya Taft, her 4-year-old sister, and mother. Shanizya's mother and 4-year-old sister were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The mother was still in the hospital late Wednesday, while the 4-year-old had been released.

Plain clothes officers pursued the driver after spotting him nearby, but police contend there was no chase. "Our officers were initially behind this vehicle. They did initially try to stop it," said Lt. Eric Kowalczyk, Baltimore City Police. "After a short period of time, they lost sight of the vehicle. And then it was one of our patrol officers who came across the accident a short time after that."

The Baltimore Police Department's policy prohibits officers from chasing suspects in vehicles except under "exigent circumstances," such as when officers believe that failing to pursue could lead to injury or death. Before police can engage in a high-speed pursuit, agency policy says, officials must consider whether the hazards to pedestrians and other drivers are outweighed by the importance of catching the suspect. Officers are supposed to communicate with supervisors before they begin a pursuit, remain in contact, and use their lights and siren.

One reason for this is to prevent police officers from becoming involved in a traffic crash--whether with the suspect or innocent bystanders. Geoffrey Alpert, a University of South Carolina professor of criminology, was quoted in USA Today saying that approximately 35% - 40% of police chases end in traffic crashes. Alpert also stated that while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that police pursuits result in about 360 deaths a year, that number is likely 3 to 4 times higher.

In 2011, the mother of a man who died in a Baltimore motorcycle accident that occurred during a high-speed police chase filed a $40 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Baltimore and the police officer involved.

In September of 2013, Baltimore police conducted a criminal investigation into whether officers followed orders to end their pursuit of a sedan before it was involved in a fatal crash that killed three people.