Before you begin your search for a car accident attorney, it's important to have a clear understanding of what qualities and criteria you're looking for. Keep in mind that your needs may vary depending on your specific case, your location, and your personal preferences.

Consider the following questions as a starting point for your search:

Look beyond the partners or public faces of the law firm and evaluate the entire team of staff members.
Take into account the firm's age, size, and experience. Awards and leadership roles in professional organizations can also be useful indicators.
Check whether the attorney participates in the local bar association and contributes to campaigns.
Find out the attorney's comfort level with going to trial and their success rate in those cases.
Look for experience with cases similar to yours in your city or county, and see if the attorney has an office nearby.
Seek out an attorney with specific experience handling your type of case.
Assess the attorney's negotiation skills by researching the settlements they have obtained in the past. Some attorneys may have this information available on their websites.
Trust your personal comfort level with the lawyer, as it can be crucial to your working relationship.
Determine whether the attorney has enough time to devote to your case and try to gauge how long their cases usually take.
Research whether the attorney has any past legal or ethical issues that could impact their ability to represent you effectively.
Read past client reviews on independent review sites to get a sense of their reputation and how they treat their clients.

By keeping these questions in mind, you'll have a better chance of finding a car accident attorney who is the right fit for your needs.