Baltimore is a large city of 619,493 and 2,690,886 in the greater metropolitan area (2011 population estimates). There are many personal injury attorneys here, but some are better than others. There are several factors that you should consider if you are to get the best one.
Consider the type of personal injury lawsuits the personal injury attorney is experienced in vis-à-vis what you need representation for. Go for a lawyer who has several years of experience in cases similar to yours. You should also consider the lawyer’s win rate in these lawsuits. Go for a lawyer who has experience in U.S. District Court of Maryland and the U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit in case you case ends up here.
Consider the qualification of the lawyer. A good lawyer is one who was trained in a good law school. If possible, go for a lawyer who finished at the top or near the top of his/her class. The lawyer should be a member of the Maryland State Bar Association as well as the Baltimore County Bar Association. Membership to these and other professional organizations is important because they have strict rules, regulations, and codes of ethics that members have to abide by. The Maryland State Bar Association is charged with determining the personal injury attorneys Baltimore who can practice law in the state and who cannot.
Consider if the lawyer belongs to a law firm. This is important because you are less likely to be defrauded by personal injury lawyers from law firms since such lawyers are easy to track. Law firms pick the crème-de-la-crème from law schools, meaning you will be represented by the best. Law firms also have paralegals, conference facilities, and everything else you need for a successful case.
Consider if the lawyer is Baltimorean. Local personal injury attorneys Baltimore are the best because they understand the local court system, they have valuable contacts, and they are best suited to conduct investigations if this is necessary. It is easy to vet a local attorney. You will also pay less for a local.
Consider if the attorney has professional liability/indemnity insurance. This is an important consideration because this insurance will cover you should there be wrongdoing on the part of the lawyer (such as should there be conflict of interest, bleach of the lawyer-client privilege, or shoddy representation). The insurance is also proof that the lawyer is dedicated to ethics and professionalism
Consider the amount you will pay. Good personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis where you pay a percentage of the amount you get. Go for a lawyer who does not charge anything for the initial consultation. This allows you to know if your case has merit before proceeding to trial.
There are many Baltimore personal injury attorneys, but some are neither credible nor reliable. There are several factors that you should consider before making the decision.
