Giant Water Slide Coming to Baltimore this Weekend

          With this stretch of beautiful sunny weather expected to continue through most of the weekend, the Urban Slide is coming to Baltimore.  A 1,000 foot long water slide will arrive tomorrow along N. Eutaw Street near Dolphin Street.  The length of the water slide is about three football fields long.  The event organizers claim that there is as special water mist and soap mixture to make the slide wet and slippery. 

            

          Anyone planning to attend can do so on Saturday from 12-6:30pm and 7-9pm, or on Sunday from 10am-5pm.  Tickets cost $16 for a single trip, $30 for three trips, $38 for unlimited trips during the day, and $32 for unlimited trips at night.  Inner tubes are not included in the price, but can be purchased at the event if you do not bring one with you.  This will be a very fun event for people of all ages to enjoy this weekend in the city.  If you are not sure about what this slide will look like, here is a link to a video posted by the event organizers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWxVJMfFjnA

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another person or a failure to maintain safe premises please call us today at (301) 854-9000 to set up an appointment at one of our office locations located in Baltimore or throughout the rest of Maryland for a free case evaluation or visit us online: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/Premises-Liability.shtml

What Clients Are Saying May 2015

“After I came to the US, this was my first accident. I was very frustrated because my sons were hurt, and didn't know what to do, but after I spoke to Ms. Heather, everything was taken care of step by step, and my son's treatment was finished up and everything was settled. Thank you for your prompt reply and your explanations for all of my questions. I don't want to get into another accident, but if I or my friends get into an accident, I will definitely find Portner & Shure. Thank you.”

This case was handled by our Korean/Japanese Legal Assistant, Heather Jung.

Maryland Governor Announces Decrease in Tolls on Bay Bridge and ICC Among Others

Early Thursday morning, a meeting took place where it was decided that multiple tolls across the state would be reduced.  This move was in large part done by Governor Hogan to show Marylanders he really meant it when he promised lower fees across the state after seeing them increase under former Governor O’Malley.  The $6 toll to travel on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge will now be $4.  For those with an EZ-Pass, the toll changes from $5.40 to $2.50, a 37.5 percent discount round trip. 

            Other changes that will happen include: eliminating the EZ-Pass Maryland monthly $1.50 account fee, increasing the EZ-Pass Maryland discount from 10% to 25% for the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry Tunnels, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, and the JFK Memorial Highway (I-95), establishing a 30% discount at the Hatem Bridge for 3- and 4-axle vehicles with a Maryland EZ-Pass (3-axle drops from $16 to $11.20 and 4-axle drops from $24 to $16.80).

            One final major change to take effect involves the ICC and I-95 express lanes.  Two-axle toll rates on the ICC and I-95 Express Toll Lanes for all pricing periods will be reduced by $0.03 per mile.  On the ICC, that translates to a peak period change from $4.40 to $3.86.  On the I-95 Express Lanes, that translates to a peak period change from $1.75 to $1.54.

            All of these changes take effect starting July 1, 2015.  This will certainly be welcome news for all Marylanders who have seen toll rates steadily increase over the last several years.  With lower tolls on many Maryland roads, bridges, and tunnels, more drivers could be tempted to try express lanes to avoid traffic congestion.  If this occurs, traffic-related accidents could decrease and fewer people will be injured in these types of accidents.

            However, if you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/

What Drivers Need to Know About New I-95 Express Lanes

visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com
or call (301) 854-9000 to speak with a top rated Maryland automobile accident attorney for a free case evaluation.

The long-awaited express E-ZPass lanes on Interstate 95 in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. area is expected to open this month.  These new lanes will extend and add capacity to the HOV lanes already present on 95 to create a 29 mile stretch of HOV/Express lanes.  This will stretch from the Edsall Road area in Fairfax County to Garrisonville Road in Stafford County.  Many drivers in the area are confused about what devices will be needed, how much it costs to use theses lanes, how many people need to be in the car, and what is an E-ZPass Flex transponder.  The Virginia Department of Transportation and the company Transurban will operate the lanes and have spent months trying to educate drivers in advance of the opening.

First, the E-ZPass Flex transponder should only be purchased and used if you will, at least occasionally, drive in the express lanes with at least two passengers.  This device is flexible because it allows the driver to switch in and out of a carpool setting.  As a result, when driving with at least two passengers and the device is switched to HOV mode, no toll will be assessed.  However, if you do not plan on carpooling in the express lanes, the regular E-ZPass device will still work and a toll will be assessed.

Drivers should also know that Virginia State Police can detect when the transponder is in HOV mode and can count the number of occupants in the car.  If the driver is using the express lanes with the HOV mode on to avoid paying tolls when not carpooling, they can be ticketed by police.
This year, Virginia eliminated the monthly fee on E-ZPass accounts in a move to promote carpooling using the express lanes and a flex transponder.  However, if you have an E-ZPass Flex device and do not use it for carpooling at least once in the first six months, your account will be charged a $10 fee.
In terms of the cost for using the express lanes, the toll varies and does not have a limit as to how high it can go.  Nevertheless, the normal average rate is predicted to be between $6 and $8.  There are no rate periods because tolls will rise or fall depending on traffic.  There will never be a time when it is free to use the express lanes (unless operating a carpool with the flex device).  The cost for using the express lanes is likely to be lowest when driving during off-peak times when traffic volume is lowest.  There will be two signs before choosing to take the express lanes that show the cost, and it is the price shown on the second sign that will be what you pay.

Traffic along 95 throughout Virginia is some of the worst in the country, making car, truck, and motorcycle accidents a common occurrence.  However, with this new 29 mile stretch of express lanes and the incentive to avoid paying tolls when driving with at least two passengers, traffic should improve and the number of accidents should diminish.

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 in Maryland please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

From our family to yours, we hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Here are some fun facts that we thought we'd share.

The Puritans brought beer with them on the ship, thereby making beer a traditional Thanksgiving drink.

The concept of American football games being played on Thanksgiving Day dates back to 1876 when the game was invented.

NFL games being played on Thanksgiving Day is a tradition dating back to the 1920's when the league was created.

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.