Greenbelt Pedestrian Injury Lawyer

Maryland’s Trusted Name in Pedestrian Accident Representation

Collisions involving pedestrians frequently occur in Prince George’s County. These collisions often occur because of negligence by automobile drivers. Innocent victims are left suffering the long-term effects of terrible injuries along with being left deeply in debt due to the cost of their medical care.

A Greenbelt pedestrian injury attorney can help you obtain the financial compensation you need to rebuild your life. At Portner & Shure, P.A., our attorneys have spent more than 30 years fighting insurance companies on behalf of our clients.

For a free consultation, call us at (410) 995-1515 or contact us online.

Maryland’s Pedestrian Laws

The State of Maryland has extensive laws regulating how drivers are supposed to drive their vehicles. Automobile drivers legally must stop at intersections or crosswalks if a pedestrian is crossing the street. They are also required to obey traffic signals, yield signs, and stop signs.

The State of Maryland also prohibits pedestrians from crossing at a crosswalk if a “do not walk” signal is illuminated. Additionally, pedestrians must cross a street by using a crosswalk whenever possible.

Injuries & Damages in Pedestrian Accident Cases

The injuries that pedestrians suffer are often severe because they have virtually no protection against an automobile.

Pedestrian injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Head and Skull Injuries
• Back Injuries
• Broken Bones
• Spinal Cord Injuries

Following the initial collision, victims of pedestrian accidents are often rushed to an emergency room to receive medical treatment. The recovery process may require victims to undergo expensive and lengthy physical therapy. Fortunately, Maryland law allows victims of pedestrian collisions to seek financial compensation for the cost of their medical care along with financial compensation for their pain and suffering.

Litigating a Pedestrian Injury Case

Insurance companies fiercely defend pedestrian collision lawsuits. To win a pedestrian lawsuit, a victim must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%. Specifically, a victim must prove that the other driver’s negligence and that the other driver’s negligence caused their injuries.

For example, if a pedestrian is able to prove that an automobile driver entered an intersection in violation of a red light or failed to obey a traffic sign such as a stop sign, this evidence often helps a pedestrian victim meet their burden of proof. The attorneys that insurance companies use to defend these cases assert a variety of legal defenses.

The most commonly used defenses are contributory negligence and assumption of risk. Contributory negligence is a defense that prevents a victim from recovering if the opposing party proves that the victim’s own negligence contributed to the accident and their injuries. Defense attorneys search for evidence showing that a pedestrian entered a crosswalk despite a “do not walk” being displayed or that a pedestrian failed to cross at a properly designated crosswalk to support a defense of contributory negligence.

Similarly, assumption of risk also prevents a victim from recovering if the opposing party proves that the victim had knowledge of a risk of potential harm, appreciated it, and voluntarily undertook it despite this known risk. Defense attorneys attempt to prove that a pedestrian entered a crosswalk despite the presence of oncoming traffic to argue that a pedestrian assumed the risk of their injuries.

How a Greenbelt Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Can Help

Insurance companies and their attorneys do everything in their power to prevent a victim of a pedestrian accident from winning their case or receiving a large award. The attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. have spent more than 30 years facing off against insurance companies and their lawyers in court. During this time, we have obtained millions of dollars for our clients in the form of judgments and settlements in pedestrian accident cases. Our reputation can be seen in the countless five-star reviews written by our former clients along with the numerous awards our attorneys have earned. Portner & Shure, P.A. receives no fee unless our client obtains a settlement or judgment in court.

To schedule a free consultation regarding your pedestrian case, dial (410) 995-1515 or contact us online. In fact, we have numerous Maryland pedestrian accident cases for clients who speak English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Vietnamese, and Korean.