In a legal market increasingly dominated by national advertising campaigns, one Baltimore personal injury firm is staking its future on a simple proposition: injured people want a local lawyer who answers the phone and treats them like a neighbor, not a number.
Richard R. Klein leads Attorney Big Al – The Law Office of Richard Klein, a firm serving Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. Klein said the difference between his firm and national operations is personal. “When you call one of those national operations, you’re a number on their bottom line,” he said. “When you call us, you’re a neighbor.”
That philosophy matters in a region where national firms spend heavily on advertising. Klein argues that local presence translates into better outcomes for clients, many of whom come from underserved communities. “Most of the families we help have been through something tragic,” he 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.”
The firm’s credentials include an AV Preeminent® peer-review rating achieved this year, a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 honor, and BBB accreditation. It represents people hurt in car, truck, motorcycle, rideshare, bus, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents.
Klein’s vision for the firm’s next chapter centers on three commitments: being easy to reach, keeping clients informed about case developments, and telling people the truth about Maryland law. That last point is critical. 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 positive news on Maryland roads. Preliminary data from the Office of Gov. Wes Moore shows 480 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 582 in 2024—the first time the total fell below 500 since 2014. 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, moving to a safe spot, taking photos, exchanging information, seeking medical care immediately, 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. It has sponsored back-to-school supply giveaways and plans to continue community involvement. “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.”
People with questions after a crash can learn more at Baltimore.
