Maryland Accident Injury Lawyers

Recent Case Results April 2018

2018-04-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

Back in March of 2016, one of our clients was involved in a horrific rear-end accident. The van that struck him had an impact so great that Jaws of Life were required to free him from the vehicle. The accident left him with a back that was broken in two places, internal bleeding, and a collapsed lung. Needless to say, our client needed extensive medical attention. After a significant amount of treatment, our client was starting to feel considerably normal. It was then that our Senior Claims Paralegal, Amy Greenwood, was able to settle this claim by obtaining the defendants policy limit. Our client was more than appreciative for the work and time that Amy and Portner & Shure had put into his case.

Employee Spotlight April 2018

2018-04-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Maria Lizarzaburu, works in the Frederick office. She has been with Portner & Shure since October 2016. Born in Peru where she lived for 10 years then moved to Maryland. Her family means everything to her, has a 10 year old son and recently married her childhood friend from Peru.

She loves helping people which makes her great with our clients. She is a paralegal assistant to Mrs. Jennifer Sauer. She enjoys the simple things in life and seeing other people happy. It’s been a pleasure having her as a part of our team.

DKA Signs and Symptoms Related to Invokana

2018-04-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

People with type II diabetes are often prescribed a common drug called Invokana.

However, the FDA has warned that drugs like Invokana can have harmful side effects, such as amputations and diabetic ketoacidosis, in other words a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death.

Ketoacidosis usually develops slowly, but when vomiting occurs, this life-threatening condition can develop in a matter of hours. Other symptoms of ketoacidosis includes dry mouth, hyperglycemia, constantly feeling of tiredness, difficulty breathing, confusion, and several others.

Many patients who have suffered from taking Invokana have now filed lawsuits. The lawsuits state that Invokana’s manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson, failed to warn patients about the side effects and misrepresented the risks.

Are you taking Invokana? Have you suffered an injury? You may be entitled to compensation. Call the attorneys here at Portner & Shure today for a free case evaluation.

Beware of Nursing Home Negligence

2018-04-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

New studies show that the number of nursing home injuries based on negligence, mistreatment and neglect increases every year. Check carefully the past incident reports and claims against any facility you plan to use for a family member. Beware that your grandparent’s health could take a rapid decline due to neglect. For example, the bed sore on your grandmother’s back that caused her to die from sepsis, may have been the result of a nursing home employee’s failure to move her body and do proper inspections.

Litigation News March 2018

2018-03-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

This month in litigation news, our Attorney, Mr. Kevin Ruby, tried a case where liability was not being accepted and the defendant was a judge for the State of Maryland Court of Special Appeals. The case ended up in litigation because the defendant was stating our client had caused to the accident. Our firm tried several times to set a court date for our client, however other judges in the state would not hear the case due to conflict of interest, stating they knew the defendant and therefore, would not hear the case. It was not until we made a request to specifically set our client’s case to be heard before a visiting judge. That judge found in our clients favor, and ruled the defendant 100% at fault for the accident. This just proves that Portner & Shure is willing to litigate any case, no matter who may be involved.

What Clients are Saying March 2018

2018-03-22T12:59:00.001-07:00

Excellent service! Honestly if I ever get into an accident again they will be the first to call! My paralegal, Christine Airey helped me with everything I needed and answered my million questions! In busy times it's nice to know this was something I didn't have to stress to dearly in my recovery. Everything was handled and I am able to recover without the hassle of the messy details! I highly recommend the law firm I used!

This case was handled out of our Columbia, MD office by our paralegal, Mrs. Christine Airey

Employee Spotlight March 2018

2018-03-22T12:32:00.002-07:00

Please join us in welcoming one of our newest attorneys, Ms. Molly Cross. Ms. Cross graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2016 with a concentration in Litigation and Advocacy. While attending law school, she was inducted into the Royal Graham Shannonhouse III Honor Society and served as a Rule 16 Student Attorney for the Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic, where she represented clients in administrative and district court proceedings. Ms. Cross was also a co-captain and competing member of the National Trial Competition team. Ms. Cross continues to volunteer her time as an assistant coach for the team. Before law school, Ms. Cross graduated Cum Laude from Clemson University where she studied Political Science and Japanese.

Prior to joining Portner & Shure, Ms. Cross gained experience clerking at a law firm in Baltimore City focusing on civil rights litigation. She later served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Cathleen M. Vitale of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.

Ms. Cross is admitted to the Maryland State Bar and is a member of the American Inns of Court. Her areas of practice include personal injury and criminal defense. We are more than excited to have Ms. Cross as a part of our team.

Maryland has been Ranked Third WORST State to Drive in

2018-03-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt that some states are easier to drive in than others?

Well you may be right—a new study ranking states driving favorability from best to worst was just released, and Maryland was ranked third worst.

Factors that the study considered included traffic congestion, number of accidents, drivers' aggressiveness, among others

More specifically, Maryland was found to have the second worst rush hour congestion and third worst overall traffic

With severe traffic congestion comes a higher risk of rear-end and lane change accidents as drivers become distracted when sitting in their car not moving

If driving through the state of Maryland, stay alert, keep a greater following distance, and always be aware of others on the road.

What Happens When You’re the Victim of a Hit-and-Run?

2018-03-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

You are always told to get the information from the driver that hit us in an accident, which includes their name, address, insurance information, and driver’s license information. But in a hit-and-run, you are left with no information and no one to call.

Actually, in situations where you are injured in an accident and have no information for the driver responsible, you do have another option to recover compensation

Your own car insurance policy includes something called uninsured motorist coverage. First, the accident should be reported to the police so it can be verified that there was an accident and the other driver had no insurance.

Second, when the responsible party’s information is unknown, you have the recourse available to set up an uninsured motorist claim, or UM claim to recover compensation for your injuries.

Complicated accidents like hit-and-runs require you to have an experienced attorney like those at Portner & Shure, to help you get the compensation you deserve.

What makes a vehicle a lemon?

2018-03-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

· Maryland lemon law provides protection to consumers of brand new vehicles who spend more time in the repair shop than on the road.

· Maryland Lemon Law applies to defective new or leased cars, light trucks, and motorcycles.

· To qualify under the protection your vehicle must be registered in Maryland, have less than 18,000 miles and owned less than 2 years.

· A dealer or manufacturer is required to correct the defect after they have notice of the problem.

· If the dealer or manufacturer is unable to fix the problem, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement vehicle if your car has one of the following defects:

1. A brake or steering failure that was not corrected after the first repair attempt and causes it to fail Maryland’s safety inspection.

2. Any one problem that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle that was not corrected in FOUR attempts

3. Any number of problems that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle that have caused it to be out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days.

· When your dealer sells you a lemon, let Portner & Shure help you make lemonade.

Recent Case Results February 2018

2018-02-26T08:23:00.001-08:00

On April 19^th, our client was involved in a hit and run accident where the defendant backed into his parked vehicle, then drove off. The impact left him with pain to his neck and back, and worsened a preexisting injury. After six months of physical therapy and other forms of medical treatment, we submitted our clients demand to Allstate for review. Once the claim was evaluated, our office was contacted with an offer that was far too low. After discussing the different options with our client, we agreed that pushing this case through to litigation would be for the best. Fortunately, the Judge agreed that our client did in fact deserve more compensation than what Allstate was offering, and awarded our client with a final verdict of $10,515.00.

The Importance of Gap Insurance After a Car Accident

2018-02-23T12:06:00.001-08:00

When a person gets a new vehicle, the majority of us want that car to run us as long as possible, the last thing we think of is the possibility of that car being totaled before it is even paid off. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and that’s where the importance of gap insurance comes into play.

If you’re in an accident where your vehicle is totaled and it is not yet paid off, you could still owe thousands of dollars to the lien holder even after the total loss check has been cashed. Insurance companies usually offer the minimum amount of your vehicles value, which is often far less than what you actually paid for the car. This means that not only do you no longer have a vehicle, but you also still have to pay off that car.

However, if you have gap insurance, it will likely pay the difference between whatever the insurance company paid to the lien holder and what you still owe, in order to pay the vehicle off. If you have been injured in an auto accident, call the top rated attorneys of Portner & Shure so we can properly guide you through all the necessary steps and help you fully utilize all coverage that is available.

Litigation News January 2018

2018-01-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

This month in litigation news at Portner & Shure, we have an accident case where our client had the right-of-way and the defendant made a left turn into our client's vehicle. The impact left our client with significant pain to his shoulder, back, neck, and left leg. As liability was never accepted by the defendant's insurance company, we had no choice but to put the case into litigation. Before going to trial, there were no settlement offers on the case, after going to trial we received a verdict of $5,338.00 plus court costs. Needless to say, our client was very pleased that he had Portner & Shure on his side.

Employee Spotlight January 2018

2018-01-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Destiny Moore, works in the Columbia Maryland office. She has been with Portner & Shure since September 2017. Born in Chicago; raised in Maryland since the age of 3. She has 8 years of customer service experience so she is great with our clients at the front desk. Along with helping to operate the front desk efficiently, she is a paralegal assistant for Ms. Rachel Dawes. Outside of work she loves to do photoshoots, hang out with friends, travel, and exercise.

What Clients are Saying January 2018

2018-01-22T10:35:00.001-08:00

I am very pleased with the work Portner and Shure did for my husband's case. I especially loved how Ms. Jung was very attentive and precise at handling our case throughout this whole process. I will definitely come back to portner and shure for sure!!

This case was handled out of our Columbia, MD office by our Paralegal, Ms. Heather Jung

Not Paying Attention May Forfeit Your Right to Recovery

2018-01-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

In Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, unlike some other states, you have to prove that you had no responsibility for being injured. If a Judge or Jury is able to look at the facts of how you were injured, and establish that something you were doing may have contributed to the accident, they may not find in your favor.

With the prevalence of handheld devices and the use of headphones on the rise, these items increase your chances of being injured while out for a walk or a bike ride because they diminish your senses to your surroundings.You may not hear that vehicle approaching you, or someone honking their horn, you may have also forfeit your right to recovery because you weren’t paying attention. If you’ve been involved in an accident as a pedestrian or a cyclist you need an experienced attorney to prove you had no contribution to your accident.

Tailgating 18-Wheelers—A Cause for Concern for Drivers

2018-01-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

A new phenomenon on the highway—Tractor trailers, tailgating other tractor trailers. Experts say this “platooning” phenomenon for 18-wheelers saves trucking companies millions, but at what cost to other drivers on the road? 18-wheelers already account for a large percentage of fatal accidents due to their size, blind spots, and inability to stop quickly.

What happens when 18-wheelers tailgate one another back to back—we believe other drivers on the road won’t have space to maneuver on the highway, and cars will be trapped and will miss their exit. Platooning 18-wheelers may increase the risks for serious accidents on highways. Rear-end accidents happen every single day and the most common cause of those accidents is tailgating.18-wheelers that intentionally tailgate one another can only be a cause for concern. If you've been involved in an accident caused by a tractor trailer truck, you need a top rated attorney on your side.

Employee Spotlight December 2017

2017-12-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Join us in welcoming Melinda (Mel) Moss to our Frederick office. Mel has been a Paralegal since 1992, with a strong and diverse legal background, with expertise in personal injury; medical malpractice; business law; employment and labor relations; as well as commercial litigation. Mel recently relocated to her hometown of Frederick from Albany, New York, where she worked as a litigation paralegal for Conway & Kirby, PLLC, a major medical malpractice and personal injury firm. Outside of work, Melinda owns and operates MSquared Kennels where she breeds, trains and competes Australian Shepherd dogs in Agility and Obedience, as well as riding and re-training Retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

Recent Case Results December 2017

2017-12-19T07:22:00.001-08:00

On July 6^th, our client was riding as a passenger in a vehicle that was rear ended by a Taxi. The impact was so great it left her with excruciating pain to her neck, back, and chest. Once our client was through with treatment, we submitted her demand to the liable party’s insurance company as we always do. However, after several months of haggling with the insurance company and no offers yet on the table, our litigation team decided to put this case into suit. After the case was tried, we went from having no offers, to having a court award of $17,230.00 plus costs. Although it was a long process, our client was very pleased she had Portner & Shure to be her advocate.

Inclement Weather Leads to More Car Accidents

2017-12-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

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 November 2017

2017-11-22T10:39:00.001-08:00

Earlier this month, our litigation manager was able to settle a case that was court bound by getting the insurance company to increase their offer. Our client was involved in an accident where the defendant ran a stop sign, t-boned her, and one other person. The insurance company was claiming minimal property damage and they didn’t see her case being worth more than $4,000.00. After our litigation manager got involved and threatened to file suit, the insurance company agreed to raise their offer by $1,500.00. Our client was very pleased with her final offer and her experience with our firm.

Litigation News November 2017

2017-11-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

This month in litigation news at Portner & Shure, we have an accident case where our client was rear-ended with such a great impact that it pushed her into the vehicle ahead of her. The accident left our client in immense pain to her neck and a fractured rib. Liability was highly disputed the entire case and no settlement offer was ever made. After our client was through with treatment she had accrued over $17,000.00 in medical expenses. In order to get our client the compensation she deserved from the insurance company, our litigation team filed suit. After we made our court appearance, the trial Judge found the defendant to be at fault and awarded our client with $27,679.71. Our client was very satisfied with her result, especially since no offer was made, and appreciated the dedication and hard work from her paralegal and attorney.

What Clients are Saying November 2017

2017-11-20T08:09:00.001-08:00

Since day one of handling my case Claudia Hernadez has been amazing and very helpful. She has made this entire process easy and stress free. They were amazing and I could not have asked for a better Paralegal.

This case was handled by our paralegal, Claudia Hernandez, who works out of our Columbia, MD office.

Employee Spotlight November 2017

2017-11-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Join us in welcoming Lucy Huang, to the Portner & Shure family. Lucy is a great asset to our team, she is originally from China which gives her the benefit of knowing both Mandarin and English. Outside of work, Lucy loves to travel, watch movies, and listen to music. Lucy has enjoyed her time so far at Portner & Shure, and is excited to see what more she can learn.

What Clients are Saying October 2017

2017-10-19T13:48:00.001-07:00

Jonathan Portner and his co-worker Grace were extremely professional and helpful with my case.
I am very pleased with the services that I have received. I highly recommend!!!

This case was handled by our paralegal, Grace Chung, who works out of our Columbia, MD office.