In Maryland's personal injury legal market, where national firms spend heavily on advertising, one local attorney is betting that personalized service and community ties matter more than catchy slogans. Richard R. Klein, who leads Attorney Big Al - The Law Office of Richard Klein, says the difference is simple: "The Attorney Big Al name means something in the communities we serve, because we're actually here. We're a real local firm, and we treat you like family." That approach is a deliberate contrast to national operations that Klein describes as treating injured people like "a number on their bottom line."
For Klein, the future of injury law in Baltimore doesn't start with an app or a slogan; it starts with a phone call that gets answered by someone who can tell you what happens next. The firm, which serves Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, has built its reputation on accessibility and compassion. "Most of the families we help have been through something tragic," Klein said. "It's not about the dollars. It's about the way we treat people - with compassion and care, from the first call to the day the case is resolved."
Many of the firm's clients come from underserved communities, people Klein says have been ignored and left without a voice. "I'm committed to fighting for their rights," he said. "Everyone deserves a lawyer who picks up the phone." The firm's accomplishments include an AV Preeminent® peer-review rating achieved this year, a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 honor, and BBB accreditation.
Klein's vision for the next chapter of the firm centers on three commitments: being easy to reach, keeping clients informed about their cases, and telling people the truth about Maryland law. That last point is critical because Maryland is one of the few states that still follows contributory negligence, meaning an injured person found even slightly at fault can be barred from recovering anything. The state also generally gives people three years from the date of a crash to file a lawsuit. "Insurance companies know Maryland's rules better than anybody," Klein said. "If they can pin even a sliver of blame on you, they'll try. That's why I tell people to get help early, before they've given a statement or signed anything."
There is some good news on Maryland roads: the state recorded 480 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 582 in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Office of Gov. Wes Moore. It was the first time the total fell below 500 since 2014, and pedestrian and bicyclist deaths dropped to 116 from 173. "That's real progress," Klein said. "But 480 is still 480 families. Behind every one of those numbers is somebody's kid, parent or neighbor."
For anyone involved in a crash, the firm recommends staying calm, taking photos, exchanging information, getting medical care right away, and talking to a lawyer before speaking with the other driver's insurance company. Klein said the firm's future also runs through the neighborhoods it serves, citing sponsored back-to-school supply giveaways. "We're a real local firm," he said. "Baltimore is home. I chose this city, and the people who call us are our neighbors. We treat you like family - not like a number."
