Not always. In many cases, your injuries may be limited, your medical bills low, and your property damage minimal. Generally speaking, it may not be necessary to retain a lawyer under these circumstances, as the legal fees alone could eat up most of the settlement funds. That leaves you, the injured party, with very little left over. But, you would be well advised to talk to an attorney before making that decision. At my firm, we provide obligation-free consultations at no charge, and we'll help you to determine whether or not hiring an attorney is in your best interest given the facts of your case.