Finding a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are injured due to someone else’s actions, it is reasonable to expect to be compensated for your personal injuries. However, the reality is that, in Maryland, this does not always happen without a fight. You may be unaware of exactly what your rights are and how to proceed in obtaining the personal injury money to which you are legally entitled. A Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you through the process. However, you must be careful in making your selection. Not all personal injury lawyers are created equal, and choosing the wrong attorney can be expensive. Here is a guide to finding a Maryland personal injury attorney.

Ask for Referrals

The best way to find a Maryland personal injury lawyer is always through referrals. If you have a current relationship with a Maryland lawyer in any field, ask him or her for a referral. Other good sources of personal injury lawyer referrals include friends and referral networks.

Understand the Fees

In Maryland, personal injury litigation is usually undertaken on contingency. This means that you are not expected to pay out of pocket up front. Your Maryland personal injury lawyer will collect a portion of the money that you recover. However, things are not always that simple. You may be required to pay up front for fees that the personal injury lawyer incurs such as photocopying. The Maryland lawyer’s portion of your winnings may be significant, up to 40% in some cases.

Be sure that the Maryland lawyer drafts a full agreement that specifies all of the fees and your responsibility for them. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them before you sign the agreement.

Firing Your Attorney

If you and your Maryland attorney are unable to see eye to eye, you may wonder whether the lawyer can be fired. Unless your contract specifies otherwise, you are always entitled to fire your lawyer in Maryland. However, you will be responsible for the lawyer’s fees for any work that he or she has done on your case. It is recommended that you consult another Maryland lawyer prior to firing the first one. He or she may be willing to negotiate your final responsibility to the first lawyer.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a Maryland personal injury lawyer can be an important step in recovering the money to which you are legally entitled. However, it is important that you do not just hire a Maryland personal injury lawyer blindly. Look for referrals, understand the fees and do not sign anything that you do not fully understand. A bit of work invested in finding the right personal injury lawyer can save you significantly in the end.