Litigation News August 2015

            Portner & Shure recently won $20,735 for a client injured in a Maryland car accident in Montgomery County.  Our client was hit at a red light and there was a dispute as to whether a lane change caused the crash.  We had an independent witness to the accident, yet the Defendant’s insurance carrier denied liability and never made a settlement offer.  Our client’s total medical costs were just over $6000.  Counsel for the Defendant refused to concede liability and just proceed on the damages only at trial.  The Court found the Defendant liable.  Our trial attorney in this case was Kevin Ruby. 

Two Dead in Devastating Accident in Arnold

         Tuesday night, two vehicles were involved in a crash on northbound Ritchie Highway at College Parkway in Arnold, Maryland.  After investigating the accident scene, police officers determined that one of the vehicles, a Nissan Sentra, was on the southbound portion of Ritchie Highway with a red left turn arrow, but the driver proceeded to turn left towards College Parkway.  While making the illegal left turn, his vehicle was now in the direct path of an oncoming GMC Suburban truck that was driving down Ritchie Highway.  The truck crashed into the passenger side of the Nissan causing the car to overturn, and the truck pushed the car into a “traffic signal support pole.”  The driver of the Nissan was crushed in the crash and did not survive.  The driver in the GMC was ejected from his truck, possibly the result of not wearing a seatbelt, and taken to Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center.  Unfortunately, he did not survive either.

            The cause of the crash was determined to be the driver of the Nissan making an illegal left turn disobeying a red turn signal.  Police also believe alcohol on the part of the Nissan driver contributed to the crash, which would explain why he tried to turn on a red signal.

            Remember, if you are in an accident and are seriously injured follow these three steps protect your claim and maximize your potential recovery:

1)     Do Not Speak: It is important to understand that when the 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 lay person, 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 Maryland personal injury attorney who can advise you. Your personal injury lawyer will 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: It is very important that you seek medical treatment for your injuries.  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 discontinue 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. Do not make this mistake and risk your claim.  Instead, listen to the advice of your doctor.

3)     Do Not Rush: The settlement process takes time. Our experienced Maryland personal injury attorneys are skilled in 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 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 in Annapolis or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/