Stravitz Law Firm, P.C.
About
As an experienced trial lawyer, Eric Stravitz handles claims, lawsuits and trials involving personal injuries arising from car accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, a lack of premises security, sexual assaults, dog bites, medical malpractice, products liability, fires and floods. Eric emphasizes results, personal service, and integrity.
Through successfully handling thousands of cases as a Maryland personal injury attorney, Eric knows that thorough preparation and attention to the details of his clients’ cases results in the best possible outcomes. When Eric takes a case, he works diligently on it so that if it cannot be settled, he will be ready to file a lawsuit and pursue it through trial (should it not settle before trial). In short, Eric will prepare to take your case the distance whether that is a pre-suit settlement, a post-suit settlement, or a trial.
Eric personally handles each case from start to finish. This personal attention and skill is why Eric was rated a SuperLawyer (DC) from 2012-2014 and a SuperLawyer (MD & DC) from 2016-2018. Only 5% of the lawyers in a geographic area are chosen by their peers as SuperLawyers. Eric also has a prestigious “AV” rating (the highest possible for legal ability and ethics) from Martindale-Hubbell. He also has a 10.0 (superb) rating from the Avvo.com, a professional rating service for lawyers and doctors.
Eric was also chosen by the Maryland Association for Justice (a trial lawyers’ organization) to offer advice to other trial lawyers with their problem cases. In 2011, he gave a seminar on Expert Witnesses to lawyers from Maryland Attorney General’s office. Eric taught trial advocacy for 5 years at GW Law School until he decided to focus on his law practice and his family. Eric has been widely published on topics that show his expertise as a trial lawyer (his articles can be found here).
The Stravitz Law Firm is dedicated to bringing each client the strength, guidance, wisdom and skill to successfully navigate a complicated legal system. During a time when most clients are overwhelmed by their unfortunate injury, they find themselves needing to make crucial decisions that can affect their health, their case, and sometimes their entire life. This is an emotional and difficult situation to be in. At the Stravitz Law Firm, each client is treated with the utmost dignity and respect and receives realistic and valuable guidance during every step of the case. Through a one-on-one relationship with Maryland personal injury lawyer Eric Stravitz, each client is supported and well informed about necessary decisions, actions and options.
After attending George Washington University Law School, Eric worked for both small and large firms focusing on personal injury law, including heavy litigation and trial work. During those years of practice, Eric experienced a wide range of techniques and philosophies regarding the practice of law, and formed strong ideas about the way it should be practiced. Wanting to apply those ideas and develop his own practice, Eric left large firm life to launch a two-lawyer partnership. That partnership amicably ended in June 2014. He then moved his practice to Lanham, Maryland which is conveniently located a few minutes from the DC Beltway (I-495) and I-95.
Eric has tried at least 30 jury trials and 30 bench (judge only) trials in courts from Baltimore County, Maryland to Fairfax County, Virginia, and everywhere in between. He’s litigated hundreds of cases in all of the Federal District (trial level) Courts in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, and in state courts as far north as Cecil County, Maryland, and as far south as Bath County, Virginia. Eric has resolved cases for clients through jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, mediations, post-lawsuit settlements and pre-lawsuit settlements.
Eric believes that attention to the details of all aspects of his cases result in the best possible outcome for his clients. Having his own firm allows Eric to spend more time with his clients than he could when he worked at other firms. He thinks this leads to more client comfort and better results. The most gratifying part of his job is the consistent positive feedback received from clients, who appreciate Eric’s strengths as a lawyer and the personal support he gives them through the claims process, litigation process and, when necessary, trial process.
For five years, Eric taught trial advocacy as an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Law School. The process of preparing for class, thinking about trial advocacy issues, discussing those issues with students, evaluating their performances, and answering their questions has made him an even better trial lawyer.
Eric handles cases involving personal injuries, car crashes, trucking crashes, medical malpractice, premises security, premises liability, and civil litigation. In addition, he serves several notable law firms as local counsel in cases filed in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
At various times throughout his life, Eric has been a Boy Scout, Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor (Life Guard & swimming instructor), paper boy, painter, flea market salesman, movie projectionist, and worker shoveling gravel for a town highway department. His exposure to a wide variety of people in different settings has, along with his legal training, made him a better communicator and trial lawyer. In addition to his law practice, Eric is a married father of two girls, and an avid tennis player and reader. He also enjoys cycling and kayaking.
Education
J.D., George Washington University School of Law, 1991
B.A., State University of New York at Albany, 1988
Magna Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors
Jurisdictions Admitted to PracticeMaryland
District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
Member of Board of Governors
Maryland Association for Justice
Member of the Publications Committee
American Association for Justice
Maryland State Bar Association
National Crime Victim’s Bar Association
Note
Although not a member of the Virginia Bar, Eric handles lawsuits in Northern Virginia while working with members of the Virginia Bar.
Publications
Maryland Boulevard Rule Law Survey, DC Trial, No. 4, 2017.
The Multi-Jurisdictional Practitioner: Motions Practice - Deadlines In Federal And State Courts - DC, MD & VA, DC Trial (Fall 2015).
The Multi-Jurisdictional Practitioner Looks At Punitive Damages Regarding Drunk Drivers And Dram Shop Law, DC TRIAL, VOL. XIV, NO. 4 (WINTER 2015)
Case Note: Ayala v. Lee (Implications of Immigration Status on Personal Injury Claims), MAJ Trial Reporter (Summer 2014).
Quick Tips, Exhausting Deponent's Knowledge, DC Trial, Vol. XII, No. 4 (Winter 2014).
Case Note: Davis v. Martinez, MAJ Trial Reporter (Fall 2013).
Quick Tips, Issues Concerning Social Media and Electronic Communications, DC Trial, Vol. XIII, No. 3 (Fall 2013).
Quick Tips, Preparing Clients for Tricky Deposition Questions, DC Trial, Vol. XIII, No. 2 (Summer 2013).
Quick Tips, DC Trial, Requesting Images in Litigation, Volume XII, No. 3 (Fall 2012).
Depositions In Automobile Negligence Cases, MAJ Trial Reporter (Winter 2011).
Book Review Of Reptile: The 2009 Manual Of The Plaintiff’s Revolution By David Ball And Don Keenan. MAJ Trial Reporter (Spring 2010).
The Multi-Jurisdictional Practitioner...Looks at Depositions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. DC Trial, Volume IX, No. 4 (Fall 2009).
Book Review of Anatomy of a Trial: A Primer For Young Lawyers By Paul Mark Sandler, Esq. MAJ Trial Reporter (Summer 2009).
How to Deal With Your Expert Witnesses Effectively. MAJ Trial Reporter (Summer 2009).
The Multi-Jurisdictional Practitioner ... Explores a Few Trial and Post-Trial Related Issues in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. DC Trial, Volume IX, No. 2 (Spring 2009).
Other Professional Activities
George Washington University School of Law
Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, 2008-2012.
Speaking Engagements
Gave a presentation on Proper Objections at the Prince George's County Bar Association's Tort Law Seminar "Deposition Practice From A-Z," 2017.
Presented tips for avoiding and dealing with bike crashes, and insurance coverage, to members of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County ("BikeAAA"), 2016.
Presented Seminar on Expert Witnesses to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office’s Trial Practice Work Group, 2011.
Member of Case Evaluation Panel at Maryland Association for Justice Case Evaluation Clinic, 2011.
Moderator for Association of Trial Lawyers of America Continuing Legal Education course: "Medical Glue: The Use of Cyanoacrylates as Embolic Devices," 2004.
Baltimore City College High School
Mock Trial Coach, 1996-1997.
Honors/Awards
Selected a SuperLawyer (DC) for 2012, 2013 and 2014 and Selected a SuperLawyer (DC & MD) for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by peers after a rigorous review and evaluation process (only top 5% in a practice area are chosen).
Rated “AV” (the highest possible for legal ability and ethics) from Martindale-Hubbell, a top lawyer rating service.
Rated "10.0 -- Superb" (the highest possible) from Avvo, a service that rates lawyers and doctors.
The George Washington University School of Law, "Award for Dedication in Teaching."
Eric handles cases in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He will also handle Virginia cases with a member of the Virginia Bar (Eric is not a member of the Virginia Bar). Eric would be happy to discuss your potential case. Initial consultations are free. Contact Eric [here] or at 240-467-5741.
I get to help people while earning a living and supporting my family.
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We would first chat over the phone. If the potential client has a case worthy of exploring, I would ask him or her to come to my office to meet in person. If he or she is too far away, I would find out if they would agree to move forward without an in-person meeting. If the case involves catastrophic injuries and the potential client cannot come to my office, I would go to wherever he or she is.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Too much to write about here. Please go to https://www.stravitzlawfirm.com/eric-stravitz.html for this information. In addition, I am a huge believer in continually improvement, which I do by attending seminars and reading books designed to improve my skills as a lawyer.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
I generally charge a 1/3 contingency fee for crash cases and 40% for medical malpractice, premises liability, and premises security cases.
How did you get started in this business?
My mom's brothers are superb trial lawyers and role models and I wanted to be like them.
What types of customers have you worked with?
People from all walks of life: government workers, teachers, lawyers, guidance counselors, consultants, doctors, barbers, insurance professionals, day care workers, nurses, nurse's aids, truck drivers, folks serving in or who have served in the military. In short, just about every occupation you can think of. Regarding race, color, creed, religion, pretty much every kind of person you can think of.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Several substantial confidential settlements that will make a difference in the lives of my clients and being part of a team of 3 lawyers who got a jury verdict in excess of one million dollars. All of these events occurred in 2017.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Make sure your lawyer has a good record of trying and winning cases to judges (called "bench trials") and juries. Insurance companies do not respect lawyers who do not go to court and win.