One of the lowest pressure ways to start the search for the right lawyer is by talking it over with friends and family who may have been in a similar situation. They will be willing to speak candidly about their experience since they have nothing to gain by promoting a lawyer who cannot do the job well. Be sure to ask several people for their suggestions and do not just choose an attorney based on the first recommendation. Explore options and remember that personal injury lawyers are not one size fits all.
Other lawyers are also a great resource when looking for an personal injury attorney who deals with a specific type of case. Even if someone has never needed a personal injury attorney before, they may have a tax lawyer or a divorce lawyer. The law community is tight knit and even if the attorney someone has worked with previously cannot handle the case, they are sure to know someone who can. This lets the client know that their new attorney is respected by someone that they already know and trust.
In New York especially, there are many referral services that make a great starting point when looking for the right attorney. In most areas, the local bar association will be able to provide a directory of lawyers in the area arranged by their legal specialty. Some of them even screen the lawyers before including them in the directory so all of the attorneys included will be up to a certain standard of quality.