In an ideal world you would talk to the insurance company first and a lawyer only if necessary. This is not an ideal world. Unrepresented persons are easy prey for skilled insurance adjusters. These adjusters have many times worked over innocent persons who only wanted a fair settlement. They are waiting for your call so they can “become your friend” and help you settle cheaply. The smart plan for you is to first get a free consultation from a personal injury attorney. Don’t feel you have to hire that attorney. Just talk about your injuries and losses. Get some expert advice for free and then with that information you can make decisions about whether it is best for you to talk directly to the insurance company or not.