McKenzie Tehrani Attorney At Law in Baltimore: Solo Personal Injury Practice Built on Contingency Representation

McKenzie Tehrani runs a solo personal injury law practice in Baltimore, handling car accidents, slip-and-fall claims, and workplace injury cases under a contingency-fee model. This means you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fee unless the case settles or a verdict is won. For a solo operation, this setup is direct: one attorney managing your file from intake through resolution, rather than handoff between associates or paralegals at a larger firm.

What Tehrani's practice actually covers

Personal injury contingency work in Baltimore typically addresses motor vehicle accidents (the largest category), premises liability (slip-and-fall, inadequate security, dangerous property conditions), workplace injuries where an employer or third party is at fault, and some product liability claims. Tehrani takes cases where fault can be established and damages are recoverable. The practice does not cover workers' compensation claims filed directly against an employer (those follow a separate statutory process), nor does it handle criminal defense or family law matters.

For Baltimore specifically, cases often turn on Maryland's concept of comparative negligence: if you are partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still collect if you are less than 50 percent at fault. This threshold matters when evaluating whether to pursue a borderline claim.

Fee structure and case intake

Under contingency representation, McKenzie Tehrani's fee is a percentage of the final settlement or judgment, typically one-third for cases settled before trial and up to 40 percent for cases that go to trial (both figures are common Baltimore market rates, though the exact percentage should be confirmed in the retainer agreement). You also pay case costs: filing fees, expert witness fees, medical records, deposition transcripts, and court reporter fees. These costs are usually advanced by the attorney and deducted from your recovery after the attorney fee is taken.

At intake, expect a consultation to establish liability, estimate damages (lost wages, medical bills, future treatment, pain and suffering), and assess whether the case justifies the time and cost. A solo practice often asks for upfront documentation: accident reports, medical records, photos, insurance information, and a timeline of events. This streamlines the investigation and signals how seriously the attorney will pursue the matter.

How McKenzie Tehrani compares to other Baltimore personal injury options

Baltimore has personal injury practices across a wide spectrum. Large firms like Venable and Whiteford Taylor Preston (both Maryland-based and with significant personal injury divisions) handle high-value cases and can absorb the cost of expert witnesses and extended litigation; their overhead is reflected in similar contingency percentages but potentially higher capacity to go to trial. Mid-size Baltimore practices like Semmes Bowen & Semmes have mixed contingency and hourly models and often specialize in specific injury types (construction, medical malpractice).

A solo practice like Tehrani's typically offers faster client communication and decision-making because there is no intake queue or case assignment bottleneck. The trade-off is less resource depth if your case requires multiple simultaneous expert reports or aggressive pretrial discovery. A solo is often the best fit for smaller-value claims (under $50,000 in total damages), where a large firm would lose money on overhead, and for clients who value direct attorney contact.

Who this practice suits and who it does not

Tehrani's practice is well-suited to straightforward accident cases with clear liability: a rear-end collision, a fall on a grocery store floor due to negligent maintenance, an injury from a defective product. It works for claimants who need a responsive, accessible attorney without navigating a large firm's bureaucracy.

It is less suitable for high-value cases requiring coordinated expert testimony (such as complicated medical malpractice or catastrophic workplace injuries), for cases where extensive corporate or government discovery is unavoidable, or for clients who prefer the institutional backing of a larger firm. A solo cannot comfortably take on a case that will require 500+ hours of attorney time; the economics do not work.

First visit and process

An initial consultation typically involves a discussion of what happened, when, where, and who was involved. Bring police or incident reports, insurance documentation, medical records, and photos if you have them. The attorney will assess fault, estimate medical damages and lost income, and explain the timeline: investigation phase (2 to 6 weeks), demand and negotiation phase (1 to 6 months), and litigation if settlement fails (6 months to 2 years, depending on court backlogs).

Many Baltimore attorneys, including solo practitioners, offer free initial consultations. If you do proceed, you will sign a retainer agreement spelling out the fee percentage, who pays case costs, and what happens if the case is rejected or dropped.

Hours and logistics

Solo practices typically operate on a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday schedule, with appointment-only meetings. Confirm current hours by phone before visiting. Street parking is available in most Baltimore neighborhoods; ask about parking when you book. Many attorneys now offer video consultations for initial calls, which sidesteps commute friction.

McKenzie Tehrani's solo model is a practical choice for Baltimore residents with smaller-to-midsize personal injury claims who value direct attorney contact and do not need the firepower of a 50-attorney firm.