Experience - Of course, a personal injury lawyer with a great deal of experience, and not just years of practice, but a track record of a favorable amount of successful negotiations is a major benefit to your case. Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. But a personal injury lawyer with a good amount of settlements may win your case by threatening to take the case to trial. The defendants are often willing to pay out more money to the plaintiffs in order to avoid negative publicity, expensive trials, and even the possibility that the court may award the plaintiffs more money. If your personal injury lawyer has never won cases in court, the defendant in your lawsuit may not take the threat seriously.

Get a personal injury lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis - This is a fee that is charged at the end of the case and only if your case is successful. This means that your lawyer doesn't get paid unless you get paid. Lawyers who primarily represent people in accidents usually charge a contingency fee. Your personal injury lawyer will take the fee out of the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your lawyer to take somewhere around 30% of your final settlement. Thus, it is essential for you to clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.

Face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer - Your personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor. You must feel comfortable talking to him or her and feel that you can trust them. If you don't like that particular lawyer for some reason and don't feel comfortable talking to him or her, you need to keep looking.