Individuals who suffer an injury that is not their fault have to deal with not only the injury but also with the stress of financial burdens getting out of control due to loss of work and wages. In order to get help with their finances they are going to need a personal injury award which comes from the person responsible for causing the injury. The first step in seeking a personal injury award is finding and retaining a personal injury attorney who will navigate the legal process leaving the individual who is injured time to focus on healing. Finding a personal injury attorney can seem like a puzzle. Following a few guidelines will make the process easier and help find an attorney who will get the personal injury award that is deserved. The first step is to determine who is at fault, an individual or a company? This will make a huge impact on the attorney that is picked to represent the case. Next, are the injuries physical, mental or both? This will make an impact on what the attorney requests. If there is mental anguish, the attorney will ask for the personal injury award to include pain and suffering. A vital piece of information to find out prior to hiring an attorney is what their fee is going to be and what it includes. A personal injury attorney typically works on a contingency basis with the fee being a portion of the award.